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

Abstract : Kawasaki disease(KD) has emerged as one of the most common causes of pediatric acquired heart disease in developed countries. T cellabnormal 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 cellsafter 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 cellsbefore 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 cellsafter IVIG treatment. Furthermore, IVIG plus aspirin treatment could not change the frequency of IFN-γ+CD8+ T cellsin the peripheral blood from the patients with KD, although CD69+CD8+ T cellswere decreased. The down-regulation of activated T and Th17/IL-22 producing CD4+ T cellsafter treatment in KD implies the role of Th17 cells and IL-22+ CD4+ T cellsin the pathogenesis of KD.