• T Hoshina, K Kusuhara, K Ikeda, Y Mizuno, M Saito, and T Hara.
• Department of Paediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. hoshina@pediatr.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
• Scand. J. Rheumatol. 2008 Nov 1; 37 (6): 445-9.

ObjectiveTo investigate whether two proinflammatory cytokines, high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) are involved in the development of Kawasaki disease (KD).MethodsTwenty-seven patients with KD were included in this study. Eleven patients with sepsis and 28 healthy children served as controls. Serum levels of HMGB1 and MIF were measured by corresponding enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits, respectively. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to quantify the expression levels of genes encoding receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE), an HMGB1 receptor, and CD74, an MIF receptor in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).ResultsSerum levels of HMGB1 and MIF in KD patients were the highest in the early acute phase and gradually decreased after defervescence. Serum HMGB1 and MIF levels in KD patients were significantly higher than those in controls (HMGB1, p<0.001; MIF, p<0.01). The expression levels of the RAGE gene and CD74 gene in KD patients were significantly higher than those in controls (RAGE, p<0.001; CD74, p<0.01).ConclusionThese data suggest that HMGB1 and MIF play an important role in immune responses in KD patients.

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