Epithelial Cell Markers
Epithelial cells are the building blocks that pack together tightly and line organs and blood vessels. They make up primary tissues throughout the body. The purpose of epithelial cells is to function as a barrier, protecting the body from mechanical damage, invading micro organisms and the loss of body fluids. Epithelial cells tend to cluster together, and have a tight, pavement-like appearance.
But this is not always the case, such as when the cells are derived from a tumor. Therefore, detection of epithelial cells has a central role in research and diagnostic of cancer. Biochemical markers allow to make a positive identification. A range of antibodies has been established for detection of individual epithelial cells. Traditional epithelial marker are Epithelial Membrane Antigen (EMA also called MUC1) and pan cytokeratin. EMA is not produced by all epithelia, though, among them gastrointestinal epithelia and endocervical epithelia. Below you can find a selection of recommended standard markers. If you need a marker for a specific tissue, browse our ful list down below.
Recommended Standard Markers:- anti-Epithelial Membrane Antigen (EMA/MUC1) antibody
- anti-pan Keratin antibody
- anti-EpCAM antibody
- anti-Cytokeratin 1 antibody
Cytokeratins
The intermediate filament proteins in the cytokeratin group are almost exclusively found in epithelial cells, they make up the major part of the cytoskeleton. This is way they serve as excellent epithelium marker. Until now, 20 different cytokeratins have been discovered, all of which can be organised in two groups: the acidic cytokeratins (type A, 9-20) and the basic cytokeratins (type B, 1-8). Epithelial cells always express a type A cytokeratin together with a type B cytokeratin. They will form a complex, ensuring every epithelium contains at least 2 cytokeratins.
Specific epithelia can thus be detected by the correct combination of cytokeratin antibodies or with antibodies directed against a single cytokeratin. For example, cytokeratin 15 is a marker of hair follicle stem cells. This immunohistochemical analysis serves the allocation of tumours, or rather the matching of metastases and their primary tumour, because all epithelia and their associated tumours express a certain set of cytokeratins. Therefore, the location of the primary tumour can be limited to certain tissues based on the cytokeratins present.
Cell Adhesion Molecules
Most other epithelial markers are cell adhesion molecules, which play a role in the tight junctions between epithelial cells to make them impermeable. Among them E-cadherin, a cell-cell adhesion molecule at the contact areas of epithelial cells. E-cadherin is expressed in all epithelia, except for neuronal epithelium.
The epithelium specific antigen EpCAM is also a cell adhesion molecule and occurs in most healthy epithelial cells, but not in mucous squamous epithelium like the one in the upper airways and intestine. EpCAM is also a tumour marker, just as CA125 Ovarian Cancer Antigen is, a cell surface protein.
Under normal conditions, CA125 is additionally expressed in the cornea, conjunctiva, the middle ear and in the trachea.
Recommended antibodies:Marker of Epithelial Cells
Below you may find the most frequently used markers for epithelial cells including their specificity. By clicking on the antigens in the "selected antibodies" column you will reach the corresponding products.
| Marker | Specificity | Type | Selected antibodies |
| Activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule, ALCAM/CD166 | Endometrial epithelium. ALCAM is a cell adhesion molecule, a type I membrane glycoprotein form the family of immunoglobulins. Synonyms in Gallus gallus are CD166, MEMD oder SC-1/DM-GRASP/BEN, the synonym in Rattus rattus is KG-CAM. | specific for epithelial subset | CD166 antibody |
| Aminopeptidase N/ANPEP, CD13, Alanyl Aminopeptidase | Microglia derived exosome, endothel. In many cells, tissues and species ANP cuts N-terminal amino acids of bioactive peptides, to inactivate or degrade them. ANP plays a role in various biological processes, among them antigen processing and presentation, cell adhesion, tumour invasion and metastasis, neurotransmitter degradation and serving as receptor of certain corona viruses. At the same time, ANP/CD13 is a marker for epithelial mesenchym of the skin and marker for the apical pole of thyroid epithelial cells in pigs, in vivo and in vitro. | specific for epithelial subset | Aminopeptidase N (ANPEP) antibody |
| Basal Bodies of Cilia (LhS28) | Basal bodies of ciliated epithelial cells | specific for epithelial subset | Basal Bodies of Cilia antibody |
| Basal Cell Cytokeratin | Basal cells in combined epithelium and stratified epithelium, as well as stem cells and mitotic cells | all epithelia | Cytokeratin (Basal Cells) antibody |
| beta-Crystallin | Epithelial cells of the chicken lens in vitro | specific for epithelial subset | beta-Crystallin antibody |
| beta-Defensin 2 | Tissue-specific produced in the skin, airway epithelia and keratinocytes | specific for epithelial subset | Beta-Defensin 2 antibody |
| beta-Defensin 3 | Tissue-specific for the salivary gland, pankreas and gonads | specific for epithelial subset | Beta-Defensin 3 antibody |
| Bmi-1 oncoprotein | Several tissues, among them adult hematopoietic stem cells and adulte neuronal stem cells of the peripheral and central nervous system. | specific for epithelial subset | RING finger protein (BMI-1) antibody |
| BRCA1 | Basal and/or luminal epithelial cells of the breast | specific for epithelial subset | BRCA1 antibody |
| BTEB1 | Human endometrial carcinoma cell line Hec-1-A | specific for epithelial subset | Transcription Factor Bteb (KLF9) antibody |
| Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) | Lung epithelial cells in the early embryo and neuroendocrine cells in the late stages | specific for epithelial subset | CGRP antibody |
| Calcyclin | Human epithelial cells and fibroblasts | specific for epithelial subset | Calcyclin antibody |
| Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) | Epithelium differentiation | specific for epithelial subset | CEA antibody |
| Cathepsin E (CaE) | Marker of normaler gastric superficial/foveolar epithelal cells | specific for epithelial subset | Cathepsin E antibody |
| Caveolin-1 | Many cell types that produce caveolae. In the Lunge it's type I alveolar epithelial cells, rarely type II | specific for epithelial subset | Caveolin 1 antibody |
| CD138 (Syndecan-1) | Squamous epithelial cells, lymphocytes in development, plasmacytes, bone marrow cells | specific for epithelial subset | CD138 antibody |
| CD151 | Endothelia, epithelia, megakaryocytes and thrombocytes | specific for epithelial subset | CD151 antibody |
| CD46 | Leukocytes, thrombocytes, epithelial cells and fibroblasts | specific for epithelial subset | CD46 antibody |
| Clara cell-specific protein | Specific marker of bronchiolar clara cells | specific for epithelial subset | Clara Cell Protein antibody |
| Connexin-43 (Cx43) | Strong expression in cornea and suprabasal limbal epithelial cells | specific for epithelial subset | Connexin 43 antibody |
| Cornulin, CRNN, C1ORF10, SEP53 | Keratinised stratified squamous epithelium, late stage of keratocyte differentiation | specific for epithelial subset | Cornulin antibody |
| Cystatin C | Proximal tubular epithelial cells of the kidney | specific for epithelial subset | Cystatin C antibody |
| Cytokeratin 10 | Suprabasal layers of epidermis and squamous epithalium derived carcinoma | specific for epithelial subset | Cytokeratin 10 antibody |
| Cytokeratin 12 | Differentiated corneal epithelium, conjunctiva, epithelial stem cells | specific for epithelial subset | Cytokeratin 12 antibody |
| Cytokeratin 13 | Squamous epithelial metaplasia | specific for epithelial subset | Cytokeratin 13 antibody |
| Cytokeratin 14 | Squamous epithelial cells | specific for epithelial subset | Cytokeratin 14 antibody |
| Cytokeratin 15 | Basal keratinocytes, specific for hair follicle stem cells | specific for epithelial subset | Cytokeratin 15 antibody |
| Cytokeratin 16 | Keratinocytes, certain carcinoma, wound healing, psoriasis | specific for epithelial subset | Cytokeratin 16 antibody |
| Cytokeratin 17 | Myoepithelal cells of several glandular lumen, intramural cytotrophoblasts, trophoblasts of the junction zone | specific for epithelial subset | Cytokeratin 17 antibody |
| Cytokeratin 18 | Proliferating malign epithelial cells, among them breast, ovaries, lungs, prostate, bladder & gastrointestina, epithelium-specific intermediate filaments, possibly apoptotic epithelia | specific for epithelial subset | Cytokeratin 18 antibody |
| Cytokeratin 19 | Many simple epithelia, micrometastases of non-small cell lung carcinoma, malign breast cancer, differentiated urothelium, glandular epithelia and carcinoma, neoplasia of prostate epithelia | specific for epithelial subset | Cytokeratin 19 antibody |
| Cytokeratin 20 | Adenocarcinoma of the intestine, carcinoma of transitional epitheliua in the bladder, Merkel cell skin carcinoma | specific for epithelial subset | Cytokeratin 20 antibody |
| Cytokeratin 3 | Cell lines of corneal epithelium | specific for epithelial subset | Cytokeratin 3 antibody |
| Cytokeratin 4 | Predominantly non-keratinised squamous epithelia like surficial and intermediate epithelial cells in oesophagus, ectocervix, tongue, vagina, larynx, pharynx, epiglottis, anus and cornea. | specific for epithelial subset | Cytokeratin 4 antibody |
| Cytokeratin 5 | Normal epithelial cells of the breast, in vitro, not in tumour cell lines | specific for epithelial subset | Cytokeratin 5 antibody |
| Cytokeratin 5, 6 | Mesothelial cells, epitheloid mesothelioma | specific for epithelial subset | Cytokeratin 5 & 6 antibody |
| Cytokeratin 7 | Ducts and glands, epithelial marker of bile differentiation and biliary cirrhosis, adenocarcinoma of the ovaries, breast and lungs | specific for epithelial subset | Cytokeratin 7 antibody |
| Cytokeratin 8 | Simple epithelial cells and all adenocarcinoma & heptoma and luminal cells, prostate epithelia | specific for epithelial subset | Cytokeratin 8 antibody |
| Cytokeratin 8, 14, 18, 19 | Marker for differentiation of prostate epithelial cells | specific for epithelial subset | Cytokeratin 8,18,19 antibody |
| Cytokeratin 8, 18 | Occult lymph node metastases of colorectal carcinoma and hepatoma | specific for epithelial subset | Cytokeratin 8 & 18 antibody |
| Cytokeratin AE1 | Cytokeratins with high molecular weight (cytokeratins 10, 14, 15, 16) and cytokeratin 19 with low molecular weight | specific for epithelial subset | Cytokeratin AE1 antibody |
| Cytokeratin AE3 | Cytokeratins with high molecular weight (cytokeratins 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) and cytokeratins 7 & 8 with low molecular weight | specific for epithelial subset | Cytokeratin AE3 antibody |
| Desmin | Marker for the discrimination of reactive mesothelia and malign epithelial cells | specific for epithelial subset | Desmin antibody |
| Desmocollin 2 | Desmosomes of epithelial cells, epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal tract, downregulated in carcinomas of the intestine | specific for epithelial subset | Desmocollin 2 antibody |
| Desmocollin 3 | Desmosomes of epithelial cells | specific for epithelial subset | Desmocollin 3 antibody |
| E-Cadherin | Surface of epithelial cells and immature erythrocytes | specific for epithelial subset | E-Cadherin antibody |
| Epithelial Antigen antibody (Ber-EP4) | Epithel-spezifisch | specific for epithelial subset | Epithelial Antigen antibody |
| Epithelial Membrane Antigen (EMA, MUC-1, CA 15-3, CD227) | Surface of the breast epithelium, most epithelial carcinomas and carcinoma of the ovaries. | specific for epithelial subset | MUC-1 (CD227, CA 15-3) antibody |
| Epithelial Sodium Channel-α | Surface of many epithelial gustatory cells and renal tubule cells | specific for epithelial subset | epithelial Sodium Channel alpha antibody |
| Epithelial Sodium Channel-β | Surface of many epithelial gustatory cells and renal tubule cells | specific for epithelial subset | epithelial Sodium Channel beta antibody |
| Epithelial Sodium Channel-γ | Surface of many epithelial gustatory cells and renal tubule cells | specific for epithelial subset | epithelial Sodium Channel gamma antibody |
| Epithelial Sodium Channel-δ | Surface of many epithelial gustatory cells and renal tubule cells | specific for epithelial subset | epithelial Sodium Channel delta antibody |
| Epithelium specific antigen (EP-CAM, ESA) (AUA1) | Marker for epithelial cells in body fluids. Basolateral cell surfaces of most epithelial cells and carcinomas. Among those foetal tissues like lungs, kidney, liver, pankreas, skin and gametes. EpCAM is also known as KS1/4, gp40, GA733-2, 17-1A, and TROP-1. It is a transmembrane glykoprotein, functioning as homophil calcium-independent adhesion molecule. | specific for epithelial subset | EP-Cam antibody |
| Epithelium/endothelial cells [PCX, Podocalyxin] | Kidney, surface of specific epithelial cells: breast, salivary gland, pankreas and glomeruli | specific for epithelial subset | Podocalyxin antibody |
| Exo-1 (Pa-G14) | Normal and tumourous glandular epithalial cells | specific for epithelial subset | Exo-1 antibody |
| EZH2 | Marker for aggressive breast cancer, enhances neoplastic transformation of breast epithalial cells | specific for epithelial subset | EZH2 antibody |
| Ezrin | Glomerular epithelial cells in developing glomeruli, mature glomeruli and glomerular epithelial cells in vitro | specific for epithelial subset | Ezrin antibody |
| Fas Ligand/TNFSF6 | Activated T-cells and natural killer cells | specific for epithelial subset | TNFSF6 antibody |
| Fibrinogen (1F3) | Marker for injuries of kidney epithelial cells | specific for epithelial subset | Fibrinogen antibody |
| Foxa1 | Epithelial cells of the airways and alveolar cells type II in the lung | specific for epithelial subset | FOXA1 antibody |
| GABRP | Specific in alveolar epithelial cells type II (AEC II) | specific for epithelial subset | GABRP antibody |
| Galectin-3 | Marker of differentiation for squamous epithelial carcinomas and normal epithelial cells | specific for epithelial subset | Galectin-3 antibody |
| GGT (gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase) | Normal and neoplastic epithelial cells of the human skin, discriminates malign tumours and benign epithelial tumours of the human skin | specific for epithelial subset | GGT antibody |
| Glutamine Synthetase | Glutamine synthetase is expressed in the pigmented epithelium of the retina (RPE) during the first trimester of pregnancy. In the 4. month and later pregnancy, glutamine synthase can not be immunohistochemically detected in the RPE any more. | specific for epithelial subset | Glutamine Synthetase antibody |
| Heat Shock Protein 27 [HSP27] | Stressed skin tissue, melanomas, some breast tumours | specific for epithelial subset | Heat Shock Protein 27 (HSP-27) antibody |
| HLA-DR | Epithelium of intestinal polyps, epithlia infected with viral verrucas | specific for epithelial subset | HLA-DR antibody |
| Lactoferrin | Secretory cells from bonw marrow and breast epithelium (marker of cell differentiation) | specific for epithelial subset | Lactoferrin antibody |
| LAMP-1 (lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1) | Marker of HC11 murine breast epithelial cell differentiation | specific for epithelial subset | LAMP-1 antibody |
| MMR | Macrophages inside of tissues, myeloid dendritic cells and lymphatic and hepatic endothelial cells | specific for epithelial subset | CD206 (MMR) antibody |
| NCAM-L1 (neural cell adhesion molecule L1) | Adhesion molecule, expressed exclusively in neurons. | specific for epithelial subset | anti-L1CAM antibody (CD171) |
| Nectin-2/CD112 | Nectin-1, Nectin-2 (CD112, PRR2, HVEB) and Nectin-3 (PRR3) are expressed on neurons, endothelial cells, epithelial cells and fibroblasts. Nectin-4 is mainly expressed in the placenta. | specific for epithelial subset | CD112/Nectin-2/PRR2 antibody |
| Normal Epithelial Cell Specific-1 (NES1)/kallikrein-10 | Epithalial cells of breast and prostate | specific for epithelial subset | Kallikrein-10 antibody |
| NSE (neuron-specific enolase) | Epithelial cells in the medulla (brain) | specific for epithelial subset | NSE (neuron-specific enolase) antibody |
| Ovarian Cancer Antigen [CA125] | Epithelia of the fallopian tube, endometrium, endocervix and ovaries, mesothelial cells of the pleura, the pericard and the peritoneum | specific for epithelial subset | CA125 antibody |
| P2X7 | Alveolar epithelial cells type I (AEC I) | specific for epithelial subset | Purinergic Receptor P2x, Ligand-Gated Ion Channel, 7 (P2RX7) antibody |
| p63 | Myoepithelial cells with naked nuclei in epithelial myoepithelial carcinomas | specific for epithelial subset | p63 antibody |
| P-Cadherin | Normal epithelial tissue | specific for epithelial subset | P-Cadherin antibody |
| pIgR | Secretary epithelial cells in exocrine tissue. pIgR carries IgA and IgM through the epithlium. | specific for epithelial subset | Polymeric Immunoglobulin Receptor (PIGR) antibody |
| Prominin-1 (CD133) | Neuroepithelal cells, epithelial stem cells of the prostate | specific for epithelial subset | Prominin-1 antibody |
| Prostasin/Prss8 | Strongly expressed in the prostate, less strong in the lungs, kidney, liver, salivary gland and pankreas. | specific for epithelial subset | Protease, Serine, 8 (Prostasin) (PRSS8) |
| Prostate Specific Antigen [PSA] | Prostate epithelial cells | specific for epithelial subset | Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) antibody |
| Prostatic Binding Protein (PBP) | Androgen-dependent marker of prostate epithelium | specific for epithelial subset | Prostatic Binding Protein (PBP) antibody |
| Protein Gene Product 9.5(PGP 9.5) | Parietal epithelial cells of the Bowman's capsule, exclusively in the subtype of cortical epithelial cells, predominantly inside the inner cortex | specific for epithelial subset | Protein Gene Product 9.5 (PGP9.5) antibody |
| PSCA (Prostate stem cell antigen) | Intermediate prostate epithelial cells in late stages of differentiation | specific for epithelial subset | Prostate Stem Cell Antigen (PSCA) antibody |
| Rab13 | Junctional complex region of many different epithelia like e.g. intestine, kidney, liver and endothelial cells | specific for epithelial subset | RAB13, Member RAS Oncogene Family (RAB13) antibody |
| RAGE | Human alveolar epithelial cells type I | specific for epithelial subset | RAGE antibody |
| Rex-1 (zinc-finger protein-42, Zfp42) | Normal human keratinocytes in the epidermis, normal prostate epithelial cells, bronchial and small lung epithelial cells in the airways | specific for epithelial subset | Zinc Finger Protein 42 (ZFP42) antibody |
| Secretory Component (SC) | Glandular epithelial cells | specific for epithelial subset | Secretory component antibody |
| Sucrase-isomaltase (SI) | Foetal and malign epithelial cells of the human intestine | specific for epithelial subset | Sucrase-Isomaltase (alpha-glucosidase) (SI) antibody |
| Surfactant Protein A | Airways, epithelium of the eustachian tube, alveolar epithelial cells type II and Clara cells | specific for epithelial subset | Surfactant Protein A antibody |
| Surfactant Protein B | Airways, alveolar epithelial cells type II, adenocarcinoma with acinal, papillar, bronchioalveolar and solid growth patterns | specific for epithelial subset | Surfactant Protein B antibody |
| Surfactant protein C (SPC) | Alveolar epithelial cells type II | specific for epithelial subset | Surfactant Protein C antibody |
| Surfactant Protein D | All Airways, alveolar epithelial cells type II, unciliated airway epithelial cells, Clara cells, trachial and bronchial glands, mucosa surfaces of several organs | specific for epithelial subset | Surfactant protein D antibody |
| Survivin | Epithelial carcinoma and benign cervical cells | specific for epithelial subset | Survivin antibody |
| TfR (Transferrin Receptor) | Almost all cell types, limited to liver and intestinal tissue. | specific for epithelial subset | Transferrin Receptor antibody |
| Transthyretin | Epithelial cells of renal tubules | specific for epithelial subset | Transthyretin (TTR) antibody |
| UGRP1/SCGB3A2 | Lung epithelium | specific for epithelial subset | Secretoglobin, family 3A, member 2 (SCGB3A2) antibody |
| VAT-1 | Calcium regulated marker of human epithelial cells | specific for epithelial subset | VAT-1 antibody |
| Vimentin | Epithelial cells of the tonsils | specific for epithelial subset | Vimentin antibody |
| Wilms Tumor | Kidney, mesothelium, Wilms Tumour and mesotheliomas | specific for epithelial subset | Wilms Tumor 1 (WT1) antibody |
References
- : "The catalog of human cytokeratins: patterns of expression in normal epithelia, tumors and cultured cells." in: Cell, Vol. 31, Issue 1, pp. 11-24, (1983) (PubMed).
- : "Differential expression of keratins 10, 17, and 19 in normal cervical epithelium, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, and cervical carcinoma." in: Journal of clinical pathology, Vol. 52, Issue 1, pp. 41-6, (1999) (PubMed).
- : "Cytokeratin 17 mRNA expression has potential for diagnostic marker of oral squamous cell carcinoma." in: Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology, Vol. 134, Issue 4, pp. 515-21, (2008) (PubMed).
- : "Expression of keratin 5 as a distinctive feature of epithelial and biphasic mesotheliomas. An immunohistochemical study using monoclonal antibody AE14." in: Virchows Archiv. B, Cell pathology including molecular pathology, Vol. 58, Issue 2, pp. 129-45, (1990) (PubMed).
- : "Keratins in health and cancer: more than mere epithelial cell markers." in: Oncogene, Vol. 30, Issue 2, pp. 127-38, (2011) (PubMed).
- : "Keratins in health and cancer: more than mere epithelial cell markers." in: Oncogene, Vol. 30, Issue 2, pp. 127-38, (2011) (PubMed).
- : "Overexpression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM) is an independent prognostic marker for reduced survival of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer." in: Gynecologic oncology, Vol. 103, Issue 2, pp. 483-8, (2006) (PubMed).
- : "Epithelial cell adhesion molecules and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers in Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors (ESFTs). Do they offer any prognostic significance?" in: Virchows Archiv : an international journal of pathology, Vol. 461, Issue 3, pp. 333-7, (2012) (PubMed).
