Premium
B‐Cell Function in Kawasaki Disease and the Effect of High‐Dose Gamma‐Globulin Therapy
Author(s) -
Kawamori Juzou,
Miyake Takeshi,
Yoshida Takami
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-200x.1989.tb01351.x
Subject(s) - medicine , kawasaki disease , cd8 , flow cytometry , b cell , immunology , staphylococcus aureus , gamma globulin , t cell , antibody , antigen , immune system , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , bacteria , artery , genetics
We studied in vino B‐cell function in Kawasaki disease (KD). By plaque‐forming assay, IgG‐, IgA‐ and IgM‐secreting cells in the first week of KD were markedly increased, and recovered to a normal level in the second week in many cases. Lymphocyte blast formation with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC), a B‐cell‐specific mitogen, was suppressed in the acute phase, and recovered to a nod level in the convalescent phase. By flow cytometry, HLA‐DR‐ and HLA‐DQ‐positive cells were increased in the acute phase of KD. CD3‐and CD4‐positive cells were also decreased. CD8‐positive cells showed no significant change. In five patients, CD4‐positive cells with HLA‐DR positivity neither increased in the acute phase nor changed during the course of illness. From our results, it can be considered that pathogenic microorganisms or toxins activate B cells directly in KD without the association of T cells. We also studied the effect of high‐dose gamma‐globulin therapy on B‐cell function in KD. However, the results indicated that this form of therapy had no significant effect on B‐cell functions.