Cell-surface vimentin (VIM)

Vimentin is a type III intermediate filament protein, primarily found in the cytoskeleton of mesenchymal cells, where it provides structural stability, supports organelle positioning, and enables cell plasticity and migration[1][6][2]. Under certain physiological and pathological conditions, vimentin is translocated to the cell surface or secreted into the extracellular space, where it exists in smaller oligomeric forms rather than full-length filaments[4][7]. On the cell surface, vimentin can function as a receptor or co-receptor for ligands—including viral proteins, immune modulators, and adhesion molecules—making it relevant to both normal biology and disease processes such as cancer invasion, fibrosis, infection, and inflammation[9][8][10]. Cell-surface vimentin is emerging as a promising therapeutic and diagnostic target, especially in oncology and virology, due to its selective expression in disease states (such as metastatic cancer and activated endothelium) and its role in mediating pathogen entry and cell interactions[7][8][9]. However, its broad expression and essential physiological roles pose challenges for drug development and clinical translation[9][5][10].

Other names

Surface vimentinExtracellular vimentinCSVVIMType III intermediate filament protein

Blocking cell adhesion and migration (as with peptides inhibiting vimentin-fibronectin/vitronectin interactions); Inhibiting viral entry by blocking the interaction of viruses (such as SARS-CoV-2) with cell-surface vimentin; Antibody-targeted therapy (experimental)