Vimentin (VIM) (VIM)

Vimentin is a type III intermediate filament protein that primarily functions as a cytoskeletal component in mesenchymal cells, maintaining cellular shape and integrity (UniProt P08670). In various cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), vimentin is overexpressed and translocates to the cell surface, where it is known as surface vimentin (sVim). This surface-expressed form serves as a hallmark of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process critical for tumor invasion and metastasis (Wu et al., 2018). The DNA aptamer TLS11a was specifically developed to bind this surface antigen on HCC cells with high specificity, making it a valuable tool for targeted therapy and molecular imaging (Shangguan et al., 2008). By binding to surface vimentin, TLS11a can facilitate the internalisation of therapeutic agents, such as doxorubicin or nanoparticle-encapsulated drugs, directly into cancer cells (Li et al., 2021). Consequently, the TLS11a-vimentin interaction represents a promising strategy for reducing the systemic side effects of chemotherapy while enhancing treatment efficacy in liver cancer patients.

Other names

VimentinVIMSurface vimentinsVimTLS11a-recognized HCC surface antigenTLS11a-recognized antigen

Aptamer-mediated targeted delivery of therapeutic cargo; Inhibition of vimentin-dependent cell migration and invasion