krt18 Antibody

Biological Context of KRT18

KRT18 is a 45-48 kDa type I intermediate filament protein (UniProt ID: P05783) that maintains epithelial cell structural integrity and participates in cellular processes including apoptosis, motility, and signaling . Its overexpression correlates with aggressive tumor behavior in multiple cancers:

• Colorectal Cancer (CRC): 57.4% of CRC tissues show high KRT18 expression vs. 27.8% in normal tissues (P=0.002) . Elevated levels associate with advanced clinical stage, metastasis, and poor prognosis .

• Other Cancers: Overexpression observed in lung, breast, gastric, and hepatocellular carcinomas, often linked to chemoresistance and metastatic potential .

Functional Studies

• Cell Viability: siRNA-mediated KRT18 knockdown reduces CRC cell viability by 40–60% (P<0.01) .

• Migration/Invasion: Silencing KRT18 decreases HCT116 and SW620 cell migration/invasion by 70% (P<0.001) .

Technical Considerations

• Antigen Retrieval: For IHC, Proteintech recommends TE buffer (pH 9.0) or citrate buffer (pH 6.0) .

• Validation: Proteintech’s antibody detects KRT18 in A549, HCT116, and HepG2 cells , while Abcam’s reagent works in human breast cancer and renal carcinoma tissues .

Clinical Implications

KRT18 antibodies facilitate:

1. Identification of high-risk cancer patients through tissue staining

2. Monitoring treatment response in chemoresistant tumors

3. Mechanistic studies of KRT18’s role in metastasis via PI3K/Akt/NF-κB and MMP pathways