Cytokeratin 8/18 (Concentrate)

Cytokeratins 8 and 18 (CK8/18) make up one of the low molecular weight cytokeratins (LMW-CK). CK8/18 is expressed in simple, non-stratified epithelia, basal and superficial cells of transitional epithelium, the luminal/secretory cells of complex epithelia, mesothelium, and may be present in some types of mesenchymal cells. Multiple cytokeratins family members may be expressed in a given cell and are characteristic of the cell type and differentiation state. Nearly all carcinomas of epithelial origin and mesotheliomas express CK8/18, and CK8/18 expression patterns aid in the classification of tumors of unknown origin and poorly differentiated carcinomas. Antibodies to CK8/18 may be useful for classification of tumors of epithelial origin (1).