High Keratin-7 Expression in Benign Peri-Tumoral Prostatic Glands Is Predictive of Bone Metastasis Onset and Prostate Cancer-Specific Mortality

Emerging insights into keratin 7 roles in tumor progression and metastasis of cancers

Keratin 7 (KRT7), also known as cytokeratin-7 (CK-7) or K7, constitutes the principal constituent of the intermediate filament cytoskeleton and is primarily expressed in the simple epithelia lining the cavities of the internal organs, glandular ducts, and blood vessels. Various pathological conditions, including cancer, have been linked to the abnormal expression of KRT7. KRT7 overexpression promotes tumor progression and metastasis in different human cancers, although the mechanisms of these processes caused by KRT7 have yet to be established. Studies have indicated that the suppression of KRT7 leads to rapid regression of tumors, highlighting the potential of KRT7 as a novel candidate for therapeutic interventions. This review aims to delineate the various roles played by KRT7 in the progression and metastasis of different human malignancies and to investigate its prognostic significance in cancer treatment. Finally, the differential diagnosis of cancers based on the KRT7 is emphasized.

Keratin7 and Desmoplakin are involved in acute lung injury induced by sepsis through RAGE

Keratin 7 (Krt7) is a member of the keratin family and is primarily involved in cytoskeleton composition. It has been shown that Krt7 is able to influence its own remodeling and interactions with other signaling molecules via phosphorylation at specific sites unique to Krt7. However, its molecular mechanism in acute lung injury (ALI) remains unclear. In this study, differential proteomics was used to analyze lung samples from the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE)-deficient and (wild-type)WT-septic mice. We screened for the target protein Krt7 and identified Ser53 as the phosphorylation site using mass spectrometry (MS), and this phosphorylation further triggered the deformation and disintegration of Desmoplakin (Dsp), ultimately leading to epithelial barrier dysfunction. Furthermore, we demonstrated that in sepsis, mDia1/Cdc42/p38 MAPK signaling activation plays a role in septic lung injury. We also explored the mechanism of alveolar dysfunction of the Krt7-Dsp complex in the epithelial cell barrier. In summary, the present findings increase our understanding of the pathogenesis of septic acute lung injury.

Evaluation of Cytokeratin-7 and Cytokeratin-19 Expression Relationship with Gleason Score in Prostatic Adenocarcinoma

Background & Objective

Prostatic adenocarcinoma (PAC) is one of the most common tumors worldwide. Immunohistochemical expression of cytokeratins has been evaluated in the diagnosis and prognosis of tumors. The aim of the present study is the evaluation of Cytokeratin-7 (Ck-7) and Cytokeratin-19 (Ck-19) expression and its relationship with Gleason score in patients with PAC.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 78 samples from 78 patients with PAC referred to Mostafa Khomeini Hospital were gathered. Samples were immunohistochemically stained by Ck-7 and Ck-19 markers. The percentage of each marker in tumor cells was determined, and its relationship with Gleason scores and Gleason grade groups was analysed by SPSS version 24.

Results

The expression of Ck-7 and Ck-19 were seen in 37.2% and 82.1% of samples, respectively. The mean of Ck-7 expression in tumor cells was 4.98%±7.19 (ranged 0 to 26%), while the mean of Ck-19 expression was 41.02%±23.36 (ranged 0 to 78%). There was no relationship between Ck-7 expression with Gleason scores and Gleason grade groups. However, Ck-19 expression was increased in higher Gleason scores and Gleason grade groups (P<0.001). No relationship was found between age and Ck-7 (P=0.309) and Ck-19 (P=0.375).

Conclusion

The Ck-7 expression in PAC samples is weak and focal and had no relationship with the Gleason scores and Gleason grade groups. However, Ck-19 expression in PAC was high and was associated with tumor dedifferentiation of samples. There was no relationship between the expression of both markers with the patient's age.

Keratin 7 expression in different anatomical parts of colonic epithelium in inflammatory bowel diseases and its prognostic value: a 3-year follow-up study

The diagnosis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) may be challenging and their clinical course, characterized by relapses and spontaneous or drug-induced remissions, is difficult to predict. Novel prognostic biomarkers are needed. Keratin 7 (K7) is a cytoskeletal intermediate filament protein which is not normally expressed in the colonic epithelium. It was recently shown that K7 expression in the colonic epithelium is associated with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, the two main subtypes of IBD. Here we investigated IBD associated K7 neo-expression in different regions of colon and terminal ileum. The correlation of the K7 expression with the inflammatory activity of the epithelium was analyzed in each region. The prognostic value of K7 was estimated by comparing the clinical disease activity after 3 years with the K7 expression at the time of enrollment. Our data shows that the level of K7 expression in inflamed epithelium varies depending on the anatomical region and it is the most pronounced in ascending and descending colon, but it did not predict the severity of IBD for the following 3 years. These results warrant future studies focusing on the biological role of K7 in colon and its utilization as potential IBD biomarker.

Editorial for the Special Edition of Advanced Prostate Cancer: From Bench to Bedside

Prostate cancer is generally viewed as a slow-growing unaggressive cancer, yet it is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in men around the world [...].