Down-regulation of activated T and Th17/IL-22 producing CD4+ T cells with treatment in Kawasaki disease

Abstract

Abstract : Kawasaki disease (KD) has emerged as one of the most common causes of pediatric acquired heart disease in developed countries. T cell abnormal activation is involved in the pathogenesis of KD. IVIG plus aspirin treatment is the first line for KD. Given that the responses of CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells after this treatment in the KD patients remain poorly understood, the present study aimed to determine and compare the frequency, activation and function of CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells before and after IVIG plus aspirin treatment in the KD patients using flow cytometry. The results showed that the most significant differences noted between before and after treatment were the reduced percentage of CD69+ CD4+ T cells, as well as the decreased frequency of Th17 cells and IL-22+ CD4+ T cells after IVIG treatment. Furthermore, IVIG plus aspirin treatment could not change the frequency of IFN-γ+CD8+ T cells in the peripheral blood from the patients with KD, although CD69+CD8+ T cells were decreased. The down-regulation of activated T and Th17/IL-22 producing CD4+T cells after treatment in KD implies the role of Th17 cells and IL-22+ CD4+ T cells in the pathogenesis of KD.