K80 is prevalent in nearly all epithelial types (stratified keratinizing and non-keratinizing, hard-keratinizing, and non-stratified tissues, as well as cell cultures). Its expression correlates with advanced tissue or cell differentiation. Unlike typical cytoplasmic IF networks, K80-containing IFs reside at cell margins near desmosomal plaques, intertwined with adjacent cytoplasmic IF bundles. Conversely, in cells undergoing terminal differentiation, K80 assumes a conventional cytoplasmic distribution. Furthermore, KRT80 mRNA undergoes alternative splicing, yielding a fully functional splice variant, K80.1.