Plectin Mutations in Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis.

Neonates and infants are susceptible to cholestatic liver diseases. At least six genes are causative for progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC), and more genetic defects are known to cause infant cholestasis. Approximately one-third of PFIC patients do not have mutations in these genes. The cytoskeleton linker plectin (PLEC) was recently found to protect the liver from cholestatic injuries in a liver-specific PLEC knockout (Plec ) mouse model. However, the PLEC mutation has not been reported in human PFIC patients. In this study, we report a pair of siblings who had severe cholestasis with compound heterozygous PLEC mutations. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.