title: Possible polyclonal B cell activation in mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome.
abstract: Immunoserological studies on polyclonal B cell activation were carried out on 39 patients with mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome (MCLS) and in age-matched healthy individuals. The incidence of anti-mite, P. acnes (Kato) and EB virus antibodies, recently proposed as aetiological agents by some investigators, was increased in the patient group. Serum immunoglobulin (Ig) M level and IgM-anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) antibodies, which are considered to be parameters of polyclonal B cell activation, were determined in MCLS cases. The level of serum IgM in MCLS was significantly elevated (0.02 less than P less than 0.05). Levels of anti-DNP antibodies in seven cases of MCLS (18%) were significantly higher than those of the controls (P less than 0.01). Nine of the ten pair sera in MCLS showed a stage-dependent decrease in anti-DNP antibodies. These results suggest that polyclonal B cell activation occurs in MCLS.
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004136:Dinitrobenzenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007223:Infant; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C045618:2,4-dinitrophenyl-IgG; D000906:Antibodies; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004136:Dinitrobenzenes; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M