The PEVIVA Cell Death Product Line
Intracellular macromolecules are released from dying epithelial cells and may be detected in patient blood. Keratins (Cytokeratins) are suitable biomarkers for epithelial cell death since these proteins are only expressed in this cell type. Keratin 18 (K18, Cytokeratin 18 or CK18) is cleaved by caspases during apoptosis – the presence of caspase-cleaved K18 in plasma therefore shows epithelial cell apoptosis. In analogy, the presence of only uncleaved K18 in plasma indicates epithelial cell necrosis.
