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Updated: Sep 25, 2025
Isolation of Intermediate Filament Proteins from Multiple Mouse Tissues to Study Aging-associated Post-translational Modifications
Published on: May 18, 2017
Roles of vimentin in health and disease
Karen M Ridge1,2, John E Eriksson3,4,5, Milos Pekny6,7,8
1Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA.
Abstract:
More than 27 yr ago, the vimentin knockout (Vim ) mouse was reported to develop and reproduce without an obvious phenotype, implying that this major cytoskeletal protein was nonessential. Subsequently, comprehensive and careful analyses have revealed numerous phenotypes in Vim mice and their organs, tissues, and cells, frequently reflecting altered responses in the recovery of tissues following various insults or injuries. These findings have been supported by cell-based experiments demonstrating that vimentin intermediate filaments (IFs) play a critical role in regulating cell mechanics and are required to coordinate mechanosensing, transduction, signaling pathways, motility, and inflammatory responses. This review highlights the essential functions of vimentin IFs revealed from studies of Vim mice and cells derived from them.
Insights
Vimentin intermediate filaments (IFs) were initially thought nonessential but are crucial for tissue repair and cellular responses. Studies reveal vimentin
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
Background:
- Vimentin (Vim) knockout mice initially showed no obvious phenotype, suggesting vimentin intermediate filaments (IFs) were nonessential.
- Recent research indicates vimentin plays critical roles in cellular mechanics, mechanosensing, and inflammatory responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the essential functions of vimentin IFs.
- To highlight findings from vimentin knockout mouse and cell studies.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of phenotypes in vimentin knockout (Vim) mice.
- Cell-based experiments investigating vimentin's role in cellular processes.
Main Results:
- Vimentin knockout mice exhibit altered tissue recovery following injury.
- Vimentin IFs are critical for regulating cell mechanics, mechanosensing, and signal transduction.
- Vimentin is required for coordinated cell motility and inflammatory responses.
Conclusions:
- Vimentin is an essential cytoskeletal protein with critical roles in tissue homeostasis and cellular function.
- Vimentin IFs are vital for mechanotransduction, cell migration, and immune responses.
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