title: Characterization of T cell repertoire changes in acute Kawasaki disease.
abstract: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute multisystem vasculitis of unknown etiology that is associated with marked activation of T cells and monocyte/macrophages. Using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, we recently found that the acute phase of KD is associated with the expansion of T cells expressing the V beta 2 and V beta 8.1 gene segments. In the present work, we used a newly developed anti-V beta 2 monoclonal antibody (mAb) and studied a new group of KD patients to extend our previous PCR results. Immunofluorescence analysis confirmed that V beta 2-bearing T cells are selectively increased in patients with acute KD. The increase occurred primarily in the CD4 T cell subset. The percentages of V beta 2+ T cells as determined by mAb reactivity and flow cytometry correlated linearly with V beta expression as quantitated by PCR. However, T cells from acute KD patients appeared to express proportionately higher levels of V beta 2 transcripts per cell as compared with healthy controls or convalescent KD patients. Sequence analysis of T cell receptor beta chain genes of V beta 2 and V beta 8.1 expressing T cells from acute KD patients showed extensive junctional region diversity. These data showing polyclonal expansion of V beta 2+ and V beta 8+ T cells in acute KD provide additional insight into the immunopathogenesis of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Denver, Colorado 80206.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Kotzin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meissner
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Melish
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fulton
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Romagne
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Malissen
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Leung
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000473:pathology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D004247:DNA