Abnormalities in growth of skin fibroblasts of patients with Huntington's disease

Abstract

Culture characteristics in a variety of media were determined in 18 skin fibroblast cultures from 8 subjects with Huntington's disease (HD) and 20 cultures from 10 control subjects. Skin fibroblasts from HD subjects consistently and reproducibly demonstrated maximal cell densities that were higher than control values. There was no significant difference in growth rates. The relationship of this phenomenon to the HD gene is unknown, as are its specificity and time of appearance in the course of the illness.