NORMAL METALLOTHIONEIN SYNTHESIS IN FIBROBLASTS OBTAINED FROM CHILDREN WITH INDIAN CHILDHOOD CIRRHOSIS OR COPPER-ASSOCIATED CHILDHOOD CIRRHOSIS

We previously demonstrated decreased metallothionein (MT) synthesis in cultured fibroblasts obtained from an American boy with findings typi cal of Indian Childhood Cirrhosis (ICC). We now report normal basal, c opper-induced, and zinc-induced MT synthesis in the fibroblasts of two Indian boys and one Irish boy with typical ICC and one Indian boy wit h copper-associated childhood cirrhosis. This suggests that etiologies other than impaired MT production should be sought as the primary def ect in these disorders. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.