Restin: a novel intermediate filament-associated protein highly expressed in the Reed-Sternberg cells of Hodgkin's disease.

Abstract

We have identified a cDNA coding for a protein of 160 kDa which is expressed in in vitro cultured human peripheral blood monocytes. The predicted amino acid sequence contains an alpha‐helical rod domain possessing features characteristic of intermediate filament proteins. However, the immunocytochemical staining pattern, abundance and solubility in Triton X‐100/high salt buffers suggest that this protein is probably only associated with the intermediate filament network and represents a new type of intermediate filament associated protein. In a survey of normal, inflammatory and human tumour tissue samples, this protein, which we have named restin, was found to be highly expressed in Reed‐Sternberg cells, the tumoral cells diagnostic for Hodgkin's disease. We suggest that restin overexpression may be a contributing factor in the progression of Hodgkin's disease.