| Gene Summary |
This gene encodes a type III intermediate filament protein. Intermediate filaments, along with microtubules and actin microfilaments, make up the cytoskeleton. The encoded protein is responsible for maintaining cell shape and integrity of the cytoplasm, and stabilizing cytoskeletal interactions. This protein is involved in neuritogenesis and cholesterol transport and functions as an organizer of a number of other critical proteins involved in cell attachment, migration, and signaling. Bacterial and viral pathogens have been shown to attach to this protein on the host cell surface. Mutations in this gene are associated with congenital cataracts in human patients. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2017] |
| Function |
Vimentin (57 kDa) is the most ubiquituos intermediate filament protein and the first to be expressed during cell differentiation. All primitive cell types express vimentin but in most non-mesenchymal cells it is replaced by other intermediate filament proteins during differentiation. Vimentin is expressed in a wide variety of mesenchymal cell types: fibroblasts, endothelial cells etc., and in a number of other cell types derived from mesoderm, e.g., mesothelium and ovarian granulosa cells. Vimentin is present in many different neoplasms but is particulary expressed in those originated from mesenchymal cells. Sarcomas e.g., fibrosarcoma, malignt fibrous histiocytoma, angiosarcoma, and leio- and rhabdomyosarcoma, as well as lymphomas, malignant melanoma and schwannoma, are virtually always vimentin positive. Mesoderm derived carcinomas like renal cell carcinoma, adrenal cortical carcinoma and adenocarcinomas from endometrium and ovary usually express vimentin. Also thyroid carcinomas are vimentin positive. Any low differentiated or sarcomatoid carcinoma may express some vimentin. Vimentin is frequently included in the so-called primary panel (together with CD45, cytokeratin, and S-100 protein): Intense staining reaction for vimentin without coexpression of other intermediate filament proteins is strongly suggestive of a mesenchymal tumour or a malignant melanoma. However, in biopsies representing only a sarcomatoid part of renal cell carcinoma a.o. a strong positivity for vimentin without cytokeratin expression may be seen. Tumours like lymphomas and seminomas have the same intermediate filament profile, but the vimentin expression is usually weaker. |
