Intermediate filaments constitute the third component of the cellular skeleton. Unlike actin
and microtubule cytoskeletons, the intermediate filaments are composed of a wide variety of …

Hemidesmosomes are multiprotein complexes that facilitate the stable adhesion of basal
epithelial cells to the underlying basement membrane. The mechanical stability of …

Keratins—types I and II—are the intermediate-filament-forming proteins expressed in
epithelial cells. They are encoded by 54 evolutionarily conserved genes (28 type I, 26 type …

Pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid are autoantibody-mediated blistering skin diseases. In
pemphigus, keratinocytes in epidermis and mucous membranes lose cell-cell adhesion, and …

Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) is a rare but life-threatening mucocutaneous disease
mediated by paraneoplastic autoimmunity. Various neoplasms are associated with PNP …

Butyrophilin molecules (commonly contracted to BTN), collectively take their name from the
eponymous protein in cow's milk. They are considered to be members of the B7 family of …

The percutaneous device dilemma describes etiological factors, centered around the
disrupted epithelial tissue surrounding non-remodelable devices, that contribute to rampant …

As the first line of defense against risk factors, the nasal epithelial barrier maintains
homeostasis in nasal mucosa. The composition of the epithelial barrier contains physical …

Esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) is the major pathologic type of esophageal
cancer in Asian population. To systematically evaluate the mutational features underlying …

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune bullous skin disease caused primarily by
autoantibodies (PV-IgG) against the desmosomal adhesion proteins desmoglein (Dsg) 1 …