Myocardial lipofuscin‐laden lysosomes contain the apoptosis marker caspase‐cleaved cytokeratin‐18

Abstract

Our study reveals that cardiac lipofuscin-laden lysosomes contain ccCK-18, a marker of apoptosis and its precursor CK-18. This ccCK-18 pool might contribute to increased systemic levels of ccCK-18 in acute coronary syndrome thus monitoring myocardial damage.

Increased soluble serum markers caspase‐cleaved cytokeratin‐18, histones, and ST2 indicate apoptotic turnover and chronic immune response in COPD

“…Previous results of our group showed elevated serum levels of apoptosis-specific caspase-cleaved cytokeratin-18 (ccCK-18) in patients with acute myocardial infarction, ischemic cardiomyopathy, sepsis, liver degeneration, and after on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (13)(14)(15)(16)(17). ST2 is a member of the interleukin-1 receptor family.…”

Research update for articles published in EJCI in 2008

“…In our previous work, we provided evidence that myocardial lipofuscin is bearing caspase-cleaved cytokeratin 18 (ccCK-18), a marker for apoptotic cell death, predominantly of epithelial derived cells [113]. This finding closely correlated with myocardial pathologies as ischaemic, hypertrophic and congestive cardiomyopathy.…”

“…Myocardial lipofuscin-laden lysosomes contain the apoptosis marker caspase-cleaved cytokeratin-18 [113] (Michael Lichtenauer and Hendrik Jan Ankersmit)…”

Basic and applied research at the department of cardio-thoracic surgery: work in progress

“…We were able to evidence that acute coronary syndromes are associated with increased levels of APO/sICE and ccCK-18 proteins. In addition we were able to identify that cardiac age-pigment, so called lipofuscin, contains ccCK-18 [17][18][19].…”