Cytokeratin Basic [AE3]

“Twenty human keratins are resolved with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis into acidic (pI <5.7) and basic (pI >6.0) subfamilies. The acidic keratins have molecular weights of 56.5, 55, 51, 50, 50’, 48, 46, 45, and 40kDa. The basic keratins have molecular weights of 65-67, 64, 59, 58, 56 and 52kDa. Members of acidic and basic subfamilies are found together in pairs. The composition of keratin pairs varies with cell type, differentiation status and environment. Many studies have shown the us efulness of keratins as markers in cancer research and tumor diagnosis. AE1 labels most acidic keratins; therefore, it is a broadly reactive antibody staining most epithelia and their neoplasms. AE1 is particularly suited to distinguish poorly differentiat ed carcinomas from non-epithelial neoplasms. This marker stains both normal and neoplastic cells of epithelial origin.”