Cytokeratin expression in human spinal meninges and ependymal cells

The expression of intermediate filament protein in human spinal cord arachnoid cells and ependyma was studied by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting. Monoclonal antibodies specific for individual cytokeratin polypeptides indicated a developmental change in the presence of cytokeratin 8 and 18 in spinal leptomeninx and tanycytes of the spinal cord ependyma. While in fetal material cytokeratin 8 and 18 were abundant in arachnoid cells, in adults immunoreactivity was restricted to a few cells. Immunoblots prepared from adult as well as fetal arachnoid membranes showed significant amounts of cytokeratin 8. These findings indicate that although cytokeratin is represented in both fetal and adult arachnoid cells there is development regulation of its specific localization.