Vimentin is the major protein subunit of the 10nm or intermediate
filaments (IFs) found in many kinds of mesenc
hymal and epithelial cells as well as developing
neuronal and astrocytic precursor cells in the CNS. Vimentin is thought to be critically involved
in lymphocyte adhesion and transmigration (Nieminen M et al. 2006). Copolymers are
frequently formed between vimentin and other IFs, such as GFAP (in many kinds of astrocytes),
desmin (in muscle cells) and neurofilament proteins (in developing neurons). Antibodies to
vimentin are useful in studies of stem cells and
generally to reveal the filamentous cytoskeleton.
Recent studies suggest that vimentin affects pr
ostate cancer cells motility and invasiveness
(Zhao et al. 2008).
