Cytokeratin 15 (CK15, K15, K1CO, keratin15, type I cytoskeletal 15) is an intermediate filament (IF) type I protein that is responsible for the mechanical integrity of epithelial cells. Keratin family members are subdivided into cytokeratins and hair keratins. Most of the type I cytokeratins consist of acidic proteins which are arranged in pairs of heterotypic keratin chains, and are clustered in a region on chromosome 17q21.2. Cytokeratin 15 is a specific marker of stem cells of the hair-follicle bulge and may be a useful marker for diagnosis between basal cell carcinoma and trichoepithelioma. Trichoblastoma are benign neoplasms of follicular differentiation frequently found in nevus sebaceus. Many morphologic features are shared with nodular basal cell carcinoma, sometimes rendering a diagnosis difficult. Trichoblastoma and BCC show variable expression of Cytokeratin 15 and Cytokeratin 19, and absence of hair keratins.

1. Pal SK et al. The expression profiles of acidic epithelial keratins in ameloblastoma. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 115:523-31 (2013).
2. Tai G et al. Cytokeratin 15 marks basal epithelia in developing ureters and is upregulated in a subset of urothelial cell carcinomas. PLoS One 8:e81167 (2013).