CD8 T lymphocytes do not express cytotoxic proteins in coronary artery aneurysms in acute Kawasaki disease.
Coronary arterial inflammation in acute Kawasaki disease (KD) is characterized by transmural infiltration of CD8 T lymphocytes, suggesting that CD8 T lymphocyte cytotoxic activity may be important in the pathogenesis of coronary arterial damage in acute KD. We performed immunohistochemistry for the cytotoxic proteins perforin and granzyme B on paraffin-embedded, formalin-fixed coronary artery aneurysm tissue from 6 children who died in the acute stage of KD. Neither perforin nor granzyme B was detected in the KD coronary aneurysm wall. We speculate that the etiologic agent of KD interferes with expression of these cytotoxic proteins by CD8 T lymphocytes, prolonging inflammation in the arterial wall and leading to coronary artery aneurysm formation.
Guzman-Cottrill
Judith A
JA
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL, USA.
Garcia
Francesca L
FL
Shulman
Stanford T
ST
Rowley
Anne H
AH
D000208:Acute Disease; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D003323:Coronary Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D053804:Granzymes; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality; D054353:Perforin; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*
D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D054353:Perforin; C509213:GZMB protein, human; D053804:Granzymes; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases