Regulation of keratin network organization

Abstract

Keratins form the major intermediate filament cytoskeleton of epithelia and are assembled from heterodimers of 28 type I and 26 type II keratins in cell- and differentiation-dependent patterns. By virtue of their primary sequence composition, interactions with cell adhesion complexes and components of major signaling cascades, keratins act as targets and effectors of mechanical force and chemical signals to determine cell mechanics, epithelial cohesion and modulate signaling in keratin isotype-specific manners. Therefore, cell-specific keratin expression and organization impact on cell growth, migration and invasion. Here, we review the recent literature, focusing on the question how keratin networks are regulated and how the interplay of keratins with adhesion complexes affects these processes and provides a framework to understand keratins contribution to blistering and inflammatory disorders and to tumor metastasis.