title: Evaluation of the cytokine response in Kawasaki disease.
abstract: Intracellular cytokines interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha and TNF-beta were studied in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with Kawasaki disease during the acute, subacute and convalescent stages of the disease utilizing cytokine-specific monoclonal antibodies and indirect immunofluorescence. Intracellular cytokines TNF-alpha and -beta were present only during the acute stage before initiation of therapy and not in the subacute or convalescent phase. Intracellular interleukin 6 was seen in both the acute phase and, in small numbers of patients, in the subacute stage of the illness. Overall 15 of 25 (60%) patients produced at least one intracellular cytokine. In the acute stage both monocyte and lymphocyte cytokines were detected intracellularly, TNF-alpha and TNF-beta in 58% of patients whereas interleukin 6 was seen in only 16%. This study provides evidence to support the involvement of activated mononuclear cells, both T cells and monocytes and their secreted soluble products, cytokines, in the pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Hospital For Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Eberhard
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Laxer
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Silverman
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000737:chemistry*; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D005719:gamma-Globulins