Cytokeratin 13 (CK13, K13)

Stains
Cytokeratin 13 (CK13, K13)

Author: Nat Pernick, M.D. (see Authors page)

Revised: 10 December 2015, last major update October 2013

Copyright: (c) 2003-2015, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.

PubMed Search: CK13[title]

Table of Contents

Cite this page: Cytokeratin 13 (CK13, K13). PathologyOutlines.com website. http://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/stainsck13.html. Accessed July 12th, 2017.

Definition / general

Molecular weight is 53 kDa
Pairs with CK4
Marker of mature but non-keratinized squamous epithelium
Downregulated in squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (Oral Oncol 2005;41:183) and other sites (Virchows Arch A Pathol Anat Histopathol 1991;418:249)
Sensitive marker for retinoid bioactivity in skin warts of renal transplant recipients (Arch Dermatol 2002;138:61)
Mutation causes familial white sponge nevus (J Dent Res 2001;80:919)
Cable piliated Burkholderia cepacia binds to cytokeratin 13 of epithelial cells (Infect Immun 2000;68:1787)

Uses by pathologists

No significant clinical use by pathologists

Positive staining - normal

Suprabasal layers of non-cornified stratified epithelium, including squamous (non-keratinized) epithelia of cervix, esophagus, larynx, oral cavity, tonsils, urothelium, and respiratory-type epithelium
May be filled with mucoid material or foamy macrophages

Positive staining - disease

Brenner tumor
Squamous metaplasia
Squamous cell carcinoma (10%)
Urothelial carcinoma (well differentiated)

Negative staining

Epidermis

Additional references