[Cytokines in Kawasaki disease]

Abstract

We analyzed plasma levels of 14 cytokines in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) before intravenous infusion of immunoglobulin (WIG) therapy using multiplex bead assay system. The results demonstrated that both inflammatory(TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, IFN-γ, G-CSF, MCP-1 and sIL-2Rα) and anti-inflammatory(IL-10, sTNFR1 and sTNFR2) cytokine levels were simultaneously elevated in patients refractory to the initial IVIG therapy. System-level understanding of the cytokine networks would be the key to develop a new therapeutic strategy to prevent coronary artery injuries in KD.