Keratin, type I cytoskeletal 15 (KRT15)

Keratin, type I cytoskeletal 15 (KRT15), is a type I acidic keratin and part of the intermediate filament family, which provides structural integrity to epithelial cells[1][3][4]. It is especially expressed in the basal layer of stratified epithelial tissues, such as the skin and hair follicles, and is recognized as a marker for certain epithelial stem and progenitor cells[2][3]. KRT15 forms heterodimers with basic keratins (notably K5), and these filament pairs help organize the cellular cytoskeleton and maintain tissue architecture[2]. Expression of KRT15 is downregulated as basal keratinocytes differentiate, and it is often used as a biomarker to identify slow-cycling, stem-like cells in epithelia[2]. Dysregulation of KRT15 is associated with cutaneous epithelial cancers such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, and its protein product (CK15) is used in pathology as a diagnostic marker for distinguishing high-grade dysplasia from malignancy in oral and skin tissues[4][6]. No known small-molecule drugs directly target KRT15 for therapeutic purposes, and it is not currently considered a classical drug target such as a receptor, enzyme, or transporter[1][4][6].

Other names

Keratin 15Cytokeratin 15KRTBCK-15K15CK15K1COcytokeratin 15keratin-15type I cytoskeletal 15keratin-15, betabasic keratin-15