RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Evidence for a superantigen mediated process in Kawasaki disease.
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood
JO Arch Dis Child
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP 308
OP 311
DO 10.1136/adc.72.4.308
VO 72
IS 4
A1 Curtis, N
A1 Zheng, R
A1 Lamb, J R
A1 Levin, M
YR 1995
UL http://adc.bmj.com/content/72/4/308.abstract
AB 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.