Characterization of human chondrocyte and fibroblast type XII collagen cDNAs

Type XII collagen belongs to the sub-family of fibril associated collagens with interrupted triple helices (FACITs). It has been shown to be present in bovine fetal epiphyseal cartilage but is absent in hyaline cartilage in avian and murine species. Here, we report the detection of type XII collagen transcripts by RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis in human fetal epiphyseal chondrocytes. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that cultured dermal fibroblasts and fetal epiphyseal chondrocytes contained predominantly transcripts for the large form of type XII collagen (XIIA). Dot blot analysis of RNA from human cells indicated that type XII collagen was two-fold more abundant in dermal fibroblasts compared to fetal chondrocytes. Northern blot analysis of multiple human tissues indicated that type XII collagen was expressed in heart, placenta, lung, skeletal muscle and pancreas.