Extracellular vimentin: Battle between the devil and the angel

Area of Science:

• Cell Biology
• Pathology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Vimentin is an intracellular cytoskeletal protein.
• Cells secrete vimentin in response to injury, stress, senescence, and cancer.
• Secreted vimentin is termed extracellular vimentin.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the functional implications of extracellular vimentin.
• To categorize extracellular vimentin based on its localization.
• To summarize its roles in viral infection, cancer, immune response, and wound healing.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and categorization of extracellular vimentin.
• Classification into surface vimentin (cell-bound) and secreted vimentin (free).
• Analysis of effects based on localization and context.

Main Results:

• Extracellular vimentin has dual roles, both beneficial and detrimental.
• Surface vimentin is often linked to negative outcomes.
• Secreted vimentin predominantly shows positive influences.

Conclusions:

• Extracellular vimentin's effects are context-dependent.
• Understanding vimentin's localization is key to its function.
• Extracellular vimentin significantly influences pathological conditions.