The pro-alpha2(XI) collagen gene is expressed in odontoblasts.
Since the dentine is analogous to bone, its extracellular matrix shares many similarities to bone tissues. Similar to the bone, type I collagen is the major organic component in dentine. However, little is known about minor fibrillar collagens, which seem to be co-expressed such as type I or II collagen. The present study examined the gene expression of type V and XI collagens, which play important roles in collagen fibril formation and skeletal morphogenesis, using RT-PCR and in situ hybridization combined with immunohistochemistry. The transcripts of pro-alpha1(XI), pro-alpha2(XI), pro-alpha1(V) and pro-alpha2(V) chains were present, but not pro-alpha3(V) and pro-alpha1(II) chains, of which an overglycosylated variant is pro-alpha3(XI) chain, in mouse incisor tooth, using RT-PCR and in situ hybridization. The pro-alpha2(XI) protein, which is mainly expressed in cartilage, were observed in the odontoblast using a specific polyclonal antibody. Real-time RT-PCR showed that the transcripts of pro-alpha2(XI), pro-alpha1(V) and pro-alpha2(V) were predominant in crown and that of pro-alpha1(XI) in root of the tooth. Finally, the expression of pro-alpha2(XI) was confirmed with an odontoblastic cell line transformed with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) both in vitro and in vivo. The data suggest a new subtype of the V/XI collagen molecule containing alpha2(XI) chain.
Hamada
Yasuhide
Y
Department of Matrix Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, 1-1 Idaigaoka Hasama-machi, Yufu City, Oita 879-5593, Japan.
Sumiyoshi
Hideaki
H
Matsuo
Noritaka
N
Yun-Feng
Wu
W
Nakashima
Momoko
M
Yanagisawa
Shigetaka
S
Yoshioka
Hidekatsu
H
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D024062:Collagen Type V / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D024161:Collagen Type XI / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014070:Tooth / Q000378:metabolism*
D024062:Collagen Type V; D024161:Collagen Type XI; D019098:Telomerase