Maternal antibody against toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 may protect infants younger than 6 months of age from developing Kawasaki syndrome.
The symptoms of Kawasaki syndrome (KS) suggest a possible relationship between KS and superantigen(s). The infrequent occurrence of KS among young infants may be due to a passive maternal antibody. We investigated the antibody titers for superantigens (toxic shock syndrome toxin [TSST]-1, staphylococcal exotoxin B, and streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins C and A) in 15 patients with KS who were <6 months of age prior to gamma globulin therapy and in 10 mothers of patients with KS <6 months of age. Significant findings were observed for only TSST-1 among the 4 anti-superantigens. The proportion of patients with KS who had high anti-TSST-1 titers was significantly higher than that among infant control subjects (33% vs. 5%, respectively; P=.031). The mean anti-TSST-1 titer for the mothers was significantly lower than that of adult control subjects (P=.021). Among infants <6 months of age, TSST-1 may be related to KS, and a maternal antibody may protect infants from developing KS.
Nomura
Yuichi
Y
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima City, 890-8520 Japan. uichi@m2.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
Yoshinaga
Masao
M
Masuda
Kiminori
K
Takei
Syuji
S
Miyata
Koichiro
K
D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000276:immunology; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology*; D005098:Exotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018089:Superantigens
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; D005098:Exotoxins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C117980:SpeA protein, Streptococcus pyogenes; D018089:Superantigens; C030107:enterotoxin F, Staphylococcal; C027951:erythrogenic toxin; C091239:staphylococcal pyrogenic exotoxin type B; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal