title: Evidence for a superantigen mediated process in Kawasaki disease.
abstract: The clinical, pathological, and immunological similarities between Kawasaki disease and the staphylococcal and streptococcal toxic shock syndromes suggest that a superantigen toxin may be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. The V beta repertoire of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 21 children with Kawasaki disease, 28 children with other illnesses, and 22 healthy controls were examined using monoclonal antibodies to V beta 2, 5, 8, 12, and 19. The mean percentage of V beta 2 expressing T cells in the patients with Kawasaki disease was increased when compared with healthy controls or children with other illnesses. The mean percentages of V beta 5, 8, 12, and 19 expressing T cells were also increased in the patients with Kawasaki disease compared with healthy controls, but were not increased when compared with children with other illnesses. The selective use of V beta 2 supports the hypothesis that a superantigen is involved in the pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, St Mary's Hospital Medical School, London.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lamb
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levin
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D018089:Superantigens; C030107:enterotoxin F, Staphylococcal; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal