Laboratory investigation; a journal of technical methods and pathology
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Type VII collagen is a minor collagen found in anchoring fibrils. It is expressed predominantly by keratinocytes. In this study, we report the localization and spatial distribution of type VII collagen gene expression in the human umbilical cord, a fetal-derived tissue. ⋯ The results show that umbilical tissue and cells, specifically those from the Wharton's jelly, are relatively enriched in type VII collagen. There is differential spatial localization of this collagen in the fetal tissue. The novel finding is that cells, other than epithelial cells such as keratinocytes, are able to express the type VII collagen gene.