CHST12 (carbohydrate sulfotransferase 12) catalyzes the transfer of sulfate to position 4 of N-acetylgalactosamine residues in chondroitin and dermatan sulfate, key components of proteoglycans in cartilage and extracellular matrices. The enzyme localizes to the Golgi membrane and uses 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate as a sulfate donor [UniProt annotation]. CHST12 expression patterns correlate with multiple disease states: elevated mRNA expression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma acts as a protective factor for overall survival 1, while high CHST12 expression in glioblastoma promotes cell proliferation and mobility through the WNT/β-catenin pathway, with knockdown significantly inhibiting these malignant phenotypes 2. In genetic studies, CHST12 variants associate with thinness-related polygenic risk scores affecting body weight regulation, with minor alleles showing higher expression in brain tissue 3. CHST12 mutations accumulate in thrombotic storm patients, suggesting potential roles in regulating endothelial cell-protective chondroitin sulfate metabolism 4. Additionally, CHST12 downregulation in a hypertension rat model correlates with elevated blood pressure and renal pathology 5, while differential CHST12 expression in cerebrospinal fluid shows promise as a biomarker for distinguishing progressive supranuclear palsy from other neurodegenerative diseases 6. DNA methylation at the CHST12 locus predicts increased mortality risk in population studies 7.