Cytokeratins comprise a diverse group of intermediate filament proteins (IFPs) that are expressed as pairs in both keratinized and non-keratinized epithelial tissue. Cytokeratins play a critical role in differentiation and tissue specialization and function to maintain the overall structural integrity of epithelial cells. Cytokeratins have been found to be useful markers of tissue differentiation, which is directly applicable to the characterization of malignant tumors. Cytokeratins 10 and 13 are present in the cytoskeletal region of a subset of squamous cell carcinomas. Cytokeratin 13 belongs to the intermediate filament family and is a heterotetramer of two type I acidic and two type II basic keratins. It is generally associated with cytokeratin 4. Defects in the KRT13 gene are a cause of white sponge nevus of cannon (WSN), a rare autosomal dominant disorder which predominantly affects noncornified stratified squamous epithelia and is characterized by the presence of soft, white and spongy plaques in the oral mucosa.
