Trichoplein keratin filament-binding protein (TCHP) may act as a 'capping' or 'branching' protein for keratin filaments in the cell periphery. It may regulate K8/K18 filament and desmosome organisation mainly at the apical or peripheral regions of simple epithelial cells []. In human, it acts as a tumor suppressor which has the ability to inhibit cell growth and be pro-apoptotic during cell stress. It inhibits cell growth in bladder and prostate cancer cells by a down-regulation of HSPB1 by inhibiting its phosphorylation [].
