Vimentin Concepts and Molecular Mechanisms

Intermediate filaments (IFs) are among the main cytoskeleton components in most animal cells, being intermediate in diameter between microtubules and actin filaments. Vimentin is one of the large intermediate filaments (IFs) of eukaryotic cell's cytoskeleton, being the major protein in mesenchymal cells and it is frequently used as a developmental marker of cells and tissues. It may be overexpressed in several cancers, such as lung, breast, head and neck cancer, and sarcomas. Furthermore, it plays a main role in rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease. Thus, this book will address main topics concerning promising therapeutic targets for intestinal fibrosis, vimentin's potential role in epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), the role of vimentin in rheumatoid arthritis, vimentin mechanisms and endothelial migration, and EMT and lung neoplasms. Also discussed are insights into the proteomics' field. Many reputed experts worldwide contributed to improvement of this book and it will give readers the state of art regarding vimentin and novel approaches.