Expression of cytokeratin and vimentin in nucleus pulposus cells.

With immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies against intermediate filament proteins, nucleus pulposus cells were found to express cytokeratin(s) simultaneously with vimentin in fetal life and childhood. This finding adds to the series of human tissues showing coexpression of cytokeratins and vimentin. Surprisingly remnants of such cells were also found in the nucleus pulposus of adults, and a possible relationship of such cells to chordoma formation is discussed.