Cross-reactivity of antibodies specific for flagellar tektin and intermediate filament subunits

Monoclonal antibodies specific for each of the flagellar tektins were prepared and used to determine whether structures similar to tektin filaments are present in cells lacking cilia or flagella. This analysis was performed by double-label immunofluorescence microscopy of several cell lines and by immunoblots of protein fractions. Two of the four anti-tektin antibodies, the antibodies 3-7-1 and 3-10-1, which bind different epitopes of the C-tektin, label 3T3, HeLa, PtK2, and BHK-21 cells as well as myotubes. The antibody 3-7-1 stains intermediate filament structures in the cells and binds vimentin or desmin in preparations of cytoskeletal proteins; whereas the antibody 3-10-1 stains nuclear envelopes in the cells and binds lamin A and C in preparations of cytoskeletal proteins or nuclear lamina. Structural similarities between the C-tektin and intermediate filament proteins probably are extended to more than two epitopes because polyclonal antibodies anti-vimentin and anti-desmin bind to C-tektin. These polyclonal antibodies also bind to A-tektin. The cross-reaction of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies binding to epitopes in tektin and intermediate filament components and the existence of a high content of alpha-helical structure in the tektin subunits (Linck, R. W., and G. L. Langevin, 1982, J. Cell Sci., 58:1-22) indicate that tektin and intermediate filaments are homologous in several parts of their structure.     

Localization of tektin filaments in microtubules of sea urchin sperm flagella by immunoelectron microscopy

Extraction of doublet microtubules from the sperm flagella of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus with sarkosyl (0.5%)-urea (2.5 M) yields a highly pure preparation of "tektin" filaments that we have previously shown to resemble intermediate filament proteins. They form filaments 2-3 nm in diameter as seen by negative stain electron microscopy and are composed of approximately equal amounts of three polypeptide bands with apparent molecular weights of 47,000, 51,000, and 55,000, as determined by SDS PAGE. We prepared antibodies to this set of proteins to localize them in the doublet microtubules of S. purpuratus and other species. Tektins and tubulin were antigenically distinct when tested by immunoblotting with affinity-purified antitektin and antitubulin antibodies. Fixed sperm or axonemes from several different species of sea urchin showed immunofluorescent staining with antitektin antibodies. We also used antibodies coupled to gold spheres to localize the proteins by electron microscopy. Whereas a monoclonal antitubulin (Kilmartin, J.V., B. Wright, and C. Milstein, 1982, J. Cell Biol. 93:576-582) decorates intact microtubules along their lengths, antitektins labeled only the ends of intact microtubules and sarkosyl-insoluble ribbons. However, if microtubules and ribbons attached to electron microscope grids were first extracted with sarkosyl-urea, the tektin filaments that remain were decorated by antitektin antibodies throughout their length. These results suggest that tektins form integral filaments of flagellar microtubule walls, whose antigenic sites are normally masked, perhaps by the presence of tubulin around them.     

Search for eukaryotic motility proteins in spirochetes: immunological detection of a tektin-like protein in Spirochaeta halophila

The serial endosymbiotic theory (SET) for the spirochete origin of undulipodia (cilia and eukaryotic flagella) predicts that a greater number of axonemal proteins will show homology to spirochete than to other bacterial proteins. To continue testing, the SET proteins associated with eukaryotic motility (tektin, centrin and calmodulin) were sought in Spirochaeta halophila. Western blot immunological detection techniques (for tektin and centrin) and two-dimensional gel analysis (for calmodulin) were used. Tektins are filamentous proteins extending the length of the axoneme in sperm tails and other undulipodia. Whole cell extracts of S. halophila were probed with antibodies made against three sea urchin (Lytechinus pictus) sperm axonemal tektins (tektins A, B, and C). In the spirochetes, one tektin-like protein was detected as a band on Western blots (a C tektin.) An antibody made against Lytechinus pictus sperm tail axonemes, affinity-purified against the C tektin of another sea urchin, Stronglyocentrotus purpuratus, bound to a 30 kDa protein from Spirochaeta halophila. The C tektin epitope was not detected in Escherichia coli. Both the poly- and monoclonal anti-centrin antibodies cross-reacted with multiple proteins in the control alga (Tetraselmis striata) and in the putatively negative control bacterium E. coli. No cross reaction was seen between any anti-centrin antibody and S. halophila. Neither did a two-dimensional gel analysis reveal the presence of calmodulin in these spirochetes or in the two other prokaryotes tested (Spiroplasma citri, Acholeplasma laidlawii). Although neither centrin nor calmodulin were detected, a 30 kDa tektin-like protein apparently is present in these spirochetes.     

Tektin interactions and a model for molecular functions

Tektins from echinoderm flagella were analyzed for microheterogeneity, self-associations and association with tubulin, resulting in a general model of tektin filament structure and function applicable to most eukaryotic cilia and flagella. Using a new antibody to tektin consensus peptide RPNVELCRD, well-characterized chain-specific antibodies and quantitative gel densitometry, tektins A, B and C were found to be present in equimolar amounts in Sarkosyl-urea-stable filaments. In addition, two isoforms of tektin A are present in half-molar ratios to tektins B and C. Cross-linking of AB filaments indicates in situ nearest neighbor associations of tektin A1B and A2B heterodimers, -trimers, -tetramers and higher oligomers. Soluble purified tektin C is cross-linked as homodimers, trimers and tetramers, but not higher oligomers. Tektin filaments associate with both loosely bound and tightly bound tubulin, and with the latter in a 1:1 molar ratio, implying a specific, periodic association of tightly bound tubulin along the tektin axis. Similarly, in tektin-containing Sarkosyl-stable protofilament ribbons, two polypeptides ( approximately 67/73 kDa, homologues of rib72, efhc1 and efhc2) are present in equimolar ratios to each other and to individual tektins, co-fractionating with loosely bound tubulin. These results suggest a super-coiled arrangement of tektin filaments, the organization of which has important implications for the evolution, assembly and functions of cilia and flagella.     

Microinjection of monoclonal antibodies specific for one intermediate filament protein in cells containing multiple keratins allow insight into the composition of particular 10 nm filaments

Monoclonal antibodies specific for vimentin (V9), keratin 7 (CK 7) and keratin 18 (CK5) have been microinjected into three human epithelial cell lines: HeLa, MCF-7 and RT-4. The effect of the injection on other keratin polypeptides and vimentin filaments has been observed by double label immunofluorescence and in some instances by immunoelectron microscopy using gold labels of different sizes. Microinjection of V9 into HeLa cells causes the vimentin to collapse into a perinuclear cap leaving the keratin filaments unaffected. Injection of CK5 does not affect the vimentin filaments but disrupts the keratin filaments revealing keratin aggregates similar to those seen in some epithelial cell lines during mitosis. The keratin aggregates obtained after microinjection in HeLa contain the keratins 8 and 18 and probably also other keratins, as no residual keratin filaments are observed with a keratin polyclonal antibody of broad specificity. Aggregates in mitotic HeLa cells contain at least the keratins 7, 8, and 18. In MCF-7 cells keratins 8, 18, and 19 are observed in the aggregates seen 3 h after microinjection which, however, show a different morphology from those seen in HeLa cells. In MCF-7 cells a new keratin filament is built within 6 h after the injection which is composed mainly of keratin 8 and 19. The antibody-complexed keratin 18 remains in spherical aggregates of different size. The results suggest that in HeLa cells vimentin and keratin form independent networks, and that individual 10 nm filaments in epithelial cell lines can contain more than two keratins.     

Tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) is related to the non-epidermal keratins 8, 18 and 19 typical of simple and non-squamous epithelia: re-evaluation of a human tumor marker

Because of the broad clinical interest which tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) has attracted as a tumor marker, human cell lines and human tissues have been analyzed for TPA expression using immunofluorescence microscopy. Epithelial cell lines including HeLa, MCF-7, and A-431 are recognized by TPA antibodies whereas human lines of non-epithelial origin are not. The positive staining patterns coincide with keratin-type intermediate filaments of the cytoskeleton. On tissue sections a subset of epithelial cells including uterine epithelium, bile duct cells in liver and tumor cells in breast carcinoma are strongly positive; cells of the squamous epithelia of skin and tongue as well as cells of non-epithelial origin are negative. In immunoblots of human epidermis, human tongue mucosa, human hair follicles, Detroit 562 cells, HeLa cells, MCF-7 and RT-4 cells, only keratins 8, 18 and 19 show TPA antigenicity. Conversely a TPA preparation is recognized by various antibodies known to react with keratins, including alpha-IFA, KG 8.13.2 and two antibodies which recognize keratins 18 (CK2) and 19, respectively. Our results thus relate TPA to human keratins 8, 18 and 19 which are known cytoskeletal components in both normal and malignant epithelial cells of simple and non-squamous origin. We speculate that the elevated levels of circulating TPA antigenicity present in the sera of patients with carcinoma, which are often used to monitor tumor progression, correspond to soluble proteolytic fragments originating from this particular keratin subgroup.     

Modulation of keratin intermediate filament distribution in vivo by induced changes in cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation.

Treatment of PtK1 cells with 5 mM acrylamide for 4 hr induces reversible dephosphorylation of keratin in concert with reversible aggregation of intermediate filaments (Eckert and Yeagle, Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 11:24-30, 1988). We have examined this phenomenon by 1) in vitro phosphorylation of isolated PtK1 keratin filaments and 2) combined treatments of PtK1 cells with both acrylamide and agents which elevate intracellular cAMP levels. PtK1 keratins were incubated in gamma-32P-ATP in the presence or absence of cAMP-dependent kinase (A-kinase) and cAMP. Levels of phosphorylation were analyzed by electrophoresis and autoradiography. Phosphorylation of keratin polypeptides (56 kD, 53 kD, 45 kD, 40 kD) occurred without added kinase, suggesting the presence of an endogenous kinase which remains with intermediate filaments in residues of Triton X-100 extracted cells. Phosphorylation levels were increased by A-kinase but not by cAMP alone, indicating the presence of cAMP-dependent phosphorylation sites in addition to sites phosphorylated by the endogenous kinase. To study the possible role of cAMP-dependent phosphorylation in acrylamide-induced aggregation of keratin filaments, we treated cells with acrylamide in the presence of 8-bromo-cAMP (brcAMP), pertussis toxin (PT), isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX), or forskolin, which increase intracellular cAMP levels. The distribution and phosphorylation levels of keratin filaments, as well as intracellular cAMP levels, were determined for each of these treatments. In addition to aggregation and dephosphorylation of keratin filaments reported previously, treatment of cells with acrylamide alone also results in reduced levels of intracellular cAMP. 8-bromo-cAMP, IBMX, and forskolin prevent acrylamide-induced aggregation of keratin filaments and result in both normal levels of keratin phosphorylation and normal intracellular cAMP levels. PT was apparently ineffective. These observations suggest that 1) PtK1 keratins are phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent kinase and an endogenous, cAMP-independent kinase and 2) alteration of levels of cAMP-dependent phosphorylation may be involved in aggregation of keratin filaments in response to acrylamide.     

Biochemical characterization of tektins from sperm flagellar doublet microtubules

Tektins, protein components of stable protofilaments from sea urchin sperm flagellar outer doublet microtubules (Linck, R. W., and G. L. Langevin, 1982, J. Cell Sci., 58:1-22), are separable by preparative SDS PAGE into 47-, 51-, and 55-kD equimolar components. High resolution two-dimensional tryptic peptide mapping reveals 63-67% coincidence among peptides of the 51-kD tektin chain and its 47- and 55-kD counterparts, greater than 70% coincidence between the 47- and 55-kD tektins, but little obvious similarity to either alpha- or beta-tubulin. With reverse-phase HPLC on a C18 column, using 6 M guanidine-HCl solubilization and a 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid/CH3CN gradient system (Stephens, R. E., 1984, J. Cell Biol. 90:37a [Abstr.]), the relatively less hydrophobic 51-kD tektin elutes at greater than 45% CH3CN, immediately followed by the 55-kD chain. The 47-kD tektin is substantially more hydrophobic, eluting between the two tubulins. The amino acid compositions of the tektins are very similar to each other but totally distinct from tubulin chains, being characterized by a greater than 50% higher arginine plus lysine content (in good agreement with the number of tryptic peptides) and about half the content of glycine, histidine, proline, and tyrosine. The proline content correlates well with the fact that tektin filaments have twice as much alpha-helical content as tubulin. Total hydrophobic amino acid content correlates with HPLC elution times for the tektins but not tubulins. The average amino acid composition of the tektins indicates that they resemble intermediate filament proteins, as originally postulated from structural, solubility, and electrophoretic properties. Tektins have higher cysteine and tryptophan contents than desmin and vimentin, which characteristically have only one residue of each, more closely resembling certain keratins in these amino acids.     

Identification and characterization of a novel mammalian intermediate filament-associated protein

A novel monoclonal antibody, designated M1.4, recognizes the high molecular weight microtubule-associated protein MAP1A (ca. Mr 380 kD) in both bovine and rat brain. In HeLa cells, however, M1.4 binds to a 240 kD polypeptide on immunoblots and co-localizes with both vimentin and cytokeratin filaments using double-label immunofluorescence microscopy. Immunoelectron microscopy indicates that the 240 kD polypeptide localizes along bundled intermediate filaments in a periodic manner. Two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis indicates that the 240 kD polypeptide has a basic pI of 7.7. When HeLa cell intermediate filaments are isolated using standard non-ionic detergent/high-salt conditions the 240 kD polypeptide does not sediment with the intermediate filaments, unlike the established intermediate filament-associated protein plectin. Immunoblot analysis with M1.4 shows the 240 kD polypeptide is expressed in a number of mammalian cell lines. Additionally, double-label immunofluorescence shows the 240 kD polypeptide to associate with vimentin filaments in African Green Monkey kidney (CV-1) and JC neuroblastoma cells. Due to its unique biochemical and biological characteristics, the 240 kD polypeptide is clearly a novel intermediate filament-associated protein for which we have proposed the designation gyronemin (Gr. gyros: around; nemin: filament).     

Synthesis and fate of keratins 8 and 18 in nonepithelial cells transfected with cDNA

To study the assembly of intermediate filaments in vivo we have transfected fibroblast cell lines with the cDNAs coding for keratins 8 and 18 under the control of the promoter of the SV40 early region and followed keratin expression by RNA hybridization, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and immunofluorescence analysis. When expressed individually, keratins 8 and 18 failed to polymerize into intermediate filaments but formed granular aggregates of variable size distributed throughout the cytoplasm as seen by staining with specific antibodies. The expression of one of these two keratins did not induce the synthesis of its partner or of any other keratin. Coexpression of the two keratins produced filamentous structures, frequently perinuclear, indicating that the two types of polypeptides were able to assemble into intermediate filaments but could not form the cytoskeleton characteristic of epithelial cells. These results demonstrate that assembly in heterocomplexes stabilizes keratins against cellular degradation, helping to explain why excess pools of simple keratins have never been detected.     

Keratin protein expression during the development of conducting airway epithelium in nonhuman primates

Keratin protein expression during the development of Rhesus monkey conducting airway epithelium was investigated by both biochemical and immunohistochemical methods. Keratin proteins were extracted from tracheal and intrapulmonary airway tissues of fetal (at 80- and 140-day gestational ages), neonatal, and adult animals. Using immunoblot analyses and immunohistochemistry with various monoclonal (AE1, AE3, AE8, 6.01 and 6.11) and monospecific antibodies (anti-50/55 and anti-40 kDa), the presence of keratins 5, 6, 8, 13, 14, and 19 in adult airway epithelium were demonstrated. Except for keratin 13 (51 kDa), the remaining keratins could be immunologically detected in fetal and neonatal tissues. To further understand the nature of the synthesis of keratin 13 during development, airway epithelial cells from different ages were isolated and cultured in vitro. Cultured cells were labeled with 35S-methionine, and the patterns of keratin protein were analyzed by one- and two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Results indicated that the cultured airway cells synthesized additional keratins including 7, 15, 16, 17, and 18. However, consistent with the in vivo finding, fetal cells synthesized less or no keratin 13. These in vivo and in vitro studies strongly suggest that the synthesis of the keratin 13 in monkey conducting airway epithelium is developmentally regulated.     

The enhanced association of keratin with hepatoma cell nuclei

A monoclonal antibody to rat hepatoma keratin demonstrates a close association of intermediate filaments with the nucleus in hepatoma cells. Immunoblot analysis of nuclear fractions and immunofluorescence of nuclei both prepared by standard procedures, indicate that intermediate filament proteins are consistently present. Sodium citrate extraction of these preparations diminishes the amount of intermediate filament proteins but does not totally remove the antigenic moieties, suggesting a tight association of intermediate filaments with nuclei. The results from both immunoblot analysis and immunofluorescent localization demonstrate the increased amount of keratins associated with hepatoma cell nuclei.     

Integration of different keratins into the same filament system after microinjection of mRNA for epidermal keratins into kidney epithelial cells

We have isolated poly (A)+ RNA, highly enriched in keratin mRNA from bovine muzzle epidermis, and injected it into epithelial cells of a different type, i.e., cultured kidney epithelial cells of the same (MDBK) or taxonomically distant (PtK2) species. Both recipient cell lines contain keratin polypeptides that are different from those present in epidermal cells. Using keratin subtype-specific antibodies in immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy, we show that foreign keratin mRNAs when injected into a different type of epithelial cell can recruit polyribosomes and are translated together with the keratin mRNAs of the host cell. Foreign epidermal keratins are excluded from vimentin filaments and other structures but readily coassemble with the endogenous keratins and appear to be integrated into the meshwork of the preexisting kidney-type keratin filaments. Our observations indicate that different sets of keratin polypeptides from the same or different species can coassemble in the living cell into a common filament system. Thus we have developed a procedure that allows experimental alteration of the intermediate filament cytoskeleton within living epithelial cells.     

人体肝癌细胞和HeLa细胞中等纤维的比较研究

本文用兔抗角蛋白抗体、豚鼠抗波形纤维蛋白抗体和抗角蛋白单抗AE1的间接免疫荧光抗体法比较了两个人体肝癌细胞系(BEL-7402和BEL-7404)和HeLa细胞中等纤维的分布式样,同时用SDS-PAGE法分析了上述细胞的中等纤维抽提物的多肽组成。结果表明:三种上皮细胞均含有两套不同类型的中等纤维系统:角蛋白纤维和波形纤维。但是,人体肝癌细胞和HeLa细胞的中等纤维分布式样和角蛋白多肽组成均有明显的差别。其中最明显的差别是HeLa细胞具有丰富的桥粒-张力纤维复合物和分子量为40 kd的角蛋白多肽,而在两个人体肝癌细胞系中看不到。     

Phenotypic analysis of cultured melanoma cells : Expression of cytokeratin-type intermediate filaments by the M5 human melanoma cell line

Expression of intermediate filament (IF) isotypes was studied in six human and two murine melanoma cell lines. With one exception, these lines expressed IFs only of the vimentin type; neurofilament peptides, desmin and GFAP were not detected. However, the M5 human melanoma line also expressed extensive cytokeratin tonofilament arrays, as visualized by immunofluorescence with a panel of eleven monoclonal antibodies and hetero-antisera to cytokeratins; only the keratin 19-specific antibody BA16 did not react. By 2 D gel electrophoresis, five major keratin peptides were detected (keratins 7, 8, 13, 17 and 18), and an additional 57 kD peptide was detected on immunoblots with several antikeratin antibodies. Also observed in M5 cells was focal collapse of tonofilament arrays in mitotic cells. All the melanoma lines tested were positive for S100; M5 and two other cell lines were also positive for the 220-240 kD neuroectoderm-associated cell-surface differentiation antigen defined by monoclonal antibody UJ 127:11. In all the melanoma cell lines, secretion of extracellular matrix proteins (fibronectin, laminin and collagen type IV) was sparse or absent, and all were negative for the epithelial cell markers HMG-1 and HMG-2. Co-expression of keratin and vimentin by a melanoma cell line is discussed in the light of recent controversy concerning expression of cytokeratins by other neoplasms of putative neuroectodermal origins.     

Proteins IEF (isoelectric focusing) 31 and IEF 46 are keratin-type components of the intermediate-sized filaments: keratins of various human cultured epithelial cells

Mouse polyclonal antibodies have been raised against two human proteins (IEF [isoelectric focusing] 31, Mr = 50,000; IEF 46, Mr = 43,500) that have previously been shown to be present in HeLa cytoskeletons enriched in intermediate-sized filaments. Immunoprecipitation studies show that both proteins share common antigenic determinants with each other and with the putative human keratins IEF 36 and 44, also present in HeLa cytoskeletons. Indirect immunofluorescence studies showed that both antibodies revealed similar filamentous networks in various cultured epithelial cells of human origin. These included AMA (transformed amnion), HeLa (cervical carcinoma), normal amnion cells, Fl-amnion (transformed amnion), WISH-amnion (transformed amnion), Chang liver (liver), and Detroid-98 (sternal marrow). Human cells that did not react with both antibodies included skin fibroblasts, lung fibroblasts (WI-38), SV40-transformed lung fibroblasts, Molt 4 (leukemia), lymphocytes, and monocytes. These results were in complete agreement with the presence or absence of both proteins in two-dimensional gels of the different cell types. Exposure of AMA cells to demecolcine (24 h; 10 micrograms/ml) caused the total collapse of vimentin filaments but, as seen by indirect immunofluorescence, caused only a partial redistribution of the IEF 31 and 46 filaments. These results are taken to suggest that both proteins are components of the intermediate-sized filaments of the "keratin" type. The antibodies could be clearly differentiated by staining human bladder carcinoma EJ 19 cells, as only the IEF 46 antibody stained a filamentous network in these cells The occurrence of keratins IEF 31, 36, 44, and 46 in different cultured human epithelial cells has been studied using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.     

植物细胞中间纤维角蛋白性质的分析

角蛋白是植物细胞中间纤维的主要成分。应用选择性抽提和生物化学技术,分离纯化了豌豆根尖细胞58-、52 kD、白菜子叶52kD和胡萝卜悬浮细胞64kD角蛋白,测定了它们的氨基酸组成,结果表明上述角蛋白与动物细胞中间纤维角蛋白的氨基酸组成有较大的相似性。比较了动、植物细胞角蛋白的肽谱,结果显示它们之间存在较大的差异,但是植物细胞间角蛋白的肽谱比较一致,这提示它们属于同一蛋白家族,为植物中间纤维及其角蛋白的存在提供了新的论据。     

Differential extraction of keratin subunits and filaments from normal human epidermis

We have investigated keratin interactions in vivo by sequentially extracting water-insoluble proteins from normal human epidermis with increasing concentrations of urea (2, 4, 6, and 9.5 M) and examining each extract by one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, immunoblot analysis using monoclonal anti-keratin antibodies, and EM. The viable layers of normal human epidermis contain keratins K1, K2, K5, K10/11, K14, and K15, which are sequentially expressed during the course of epidermal differentiation. Only keratins K5, K14, and K15, which are synthesized by epidermal basal cells, were solubilized in 2 M urea. Extraction of keratins K1, K2, and K10/11, which are expressed only in differentiating suprabasal cells, required 4-6 M urea. Negative staining of the 2-M urea extract revealed predominantly keratin filament subunits, whereas abundant intermediate-sized filaments were observed in the 4-urea and 6-M urea extracts. These results indicate that in normal human epidermis, keratins K5, K14, and K15 are more soluble than the differentiation-specific keratins K1, K2, and K10/11. This finding suggests that native keratin filaments of different polypeptide composition have differing properties, despite their similar morphology. Furthermore, the observation of stable filaments in 4 and 6 M urea suggests that epidermal keratins K1, K2, and K10/11, which ultimately form the bulk of the protective, nonviable stratum corneum, may comprise filaments that are unusually resistant to denaturation.     

Intermediate filaments reminiscent of immature cells expressed by goldfish (Carassius auratus) astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in vitro

The expression of intermediate filaments is developmentally regulated. In the mammalian embryo keratins are the first to appear, followed by vimentin, while the principal intermediate filament of the adult brain is glial fibrillary acidic protein. The intermediate filaments expressed by a cell thus reflect its state of differentiation. The differentiation state of cells, and especially of glial cells, in turn determines their ability to support axonal growth. In this study we used three new antibodies directed against three fish intermediate filaments (glial fibrillary acidic protein, keratin 8 and vimentin), in order to determine the identity and level of expression of intermediate filaments present in fish glial cells in culture. We found that fish astrocytes and oligodendrocytes are both able to express keratin 8 and vimentin. We further demonstrate that under proliferative conditions astrocytes express high keratin 8 levels and most oligodendrocytes also express keratin 8, whereas under nonproliferative conditions the astrocytes express only low keratin 8 levels and most oligodendrocytes do not express keratin 8 at all. These results suggest that the fish glial cells retain characteristics of immature cells. The findings are also discussed in relation to the fish glial lineage.