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Evidence for a superantigen mediated process in Kawasaki disease.
  1. N Curtis,
  2. R Zheng,
  3. J R Lamb,
  4. M Levin
  1. Paediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, St Mary's Hospital Medical School, London.

    Abstract

    The clinical, pathological, and immunological similarities between Kawasaki disease and the staphylococcal and streptococcal toxic shock syndromes suggest that a superantigen toxin may be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. The V beta repertoire of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 21 children with Kawasaki disease, 28 children with other illnesses, and 22 healthy controls were examined using monoclonal antibodies to V beta 2, 5, 8, 12, and 19. The mean percentage of V beta 2 expressing T cells in the patients with Kawasaki disease was increased when compared with healthy controls or children with other illnesses. The mean percentages of V beta 5, 8, 12, and 19 expressing T cells were also increased in the patients with Kawasaki disease compared with healthy controls, but were not increased when compared with children with other illnesses. The selective use of V beta 2 supports the hypothesis that a superantigen is involved in the pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease.

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