Immunoglobulin Production in Kawasaki Disease

Abstract

The production of immunoglobulins that may include specific antibodies to an unknown agent was investigated in Kawasaki disease. That is, serum immunoglobulin concentrations and the numbers of immunoglobulin-secreting cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) without culture in vitro were enumerated in the course of the disease, to assess immunoglobulin production at a certain point in vivo. Results showed that the numbers of IgM-, IgG-, or IgA-secreting cells increased in the acute stage prior to increases in serum IgM, IgG, or IgA concentrations, respectively. Moreover, in 2 patients who had a relapse of the illness, the numbers of immunoglobulin-secreting cells were high at the relapse compared with those within 1 week after the initial onset. These results suggest that measurement of immunoglobulin-secreting cells in PBMCs is useful for assessment of the immunoglobulin production ability at a certain point in vivo. Thus, immunoglobulins abnormally produced may include specific antibodies to the epitopes of a certain agent.