Changes of Peripheral IFN-γ-Producing CD4(+) and CD4(-) Cell Frequencies in Kawasaki Disease |
Joung-Min Eom, Heon-Seok Han, Youn-Soo Hahn |
Department of Pediatrics, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea |
가와사끼병 환아 말초혈액에서의 IFN-γ 생성 CD4(+) 및 CD4(-) 세포 빈도의 변화 |
엄정민, 한헌석, 한윤수 |
충북대학교 의과대학 소아과학교실 |
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Abstract |
Purpose : This study was performed to analyze the frequencies of peripheral IFN-γ-producing cells at the single cell level, and to determine concentrations of circulating interferon-γ(IFN-γ) in the acute and subacute phases of Kawasaki disease(KD).
Methods : Ten patients with KD were studied and seven healthy children were selected as control subjects. Using immunofluorescent detection of intracellular IFN-γ in CD4(+) and CD4(-) the cells, the frequencies of IFN-γ-producing cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) were studied. Circulating IFN-γ levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results : The frequencies of peripheral blood CD4(+) and CD4(-) IFN-γ-producing cells in acute phase KD patients were significantly lower than in subacute phase KD patients and control children(P<0.05). CD4(-) cells, thought to be mainly composed of CD8(+) cells, appeared to be more responsible for the reduced frequencies of total IFN-γ-producing cells than CD4(+) cells. There were, however, no differences in frequencies of IFN-γ-producing cells between KD patients in the subacute phase and control group children. In contrast, serum IFN-γ levels were higher in KD patients in the acute phase than in the subacute phase(P<0.05).
Conclusion : The above results show an increased level of circulating interferon-γ and a decreased emergence of peripheral IFN-γ-producing cells in acute KD patients, suggesting transient infiltration of activated IFN-γ-producing cells into the inflammatory sites during acute KD. These findings also support the hypothesis that IFN-γ plays an important role in the pathogenesis of KD-related vasculitis. |
Key Words:
IFN-γ, IFN-γ-producing cells, Kawasaki disease |
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