All issues > Volume 43(10); 2000

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 2000;43(10):1350-1355. Published online October 15, 2000.

Changes of Peripheral IFN-γ-Producing CD4(＋) and CD4(－) Cell Frequencies in Kawasaki Disease

Joung-Min JM Eom¹, Heon-Seok HS Han¹, Youn-Soo YS Hahn¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea

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.

Keywords :IFN-γ, IFN-γ-producing cells, Kawasaki disease