Expression of suppressors of cytokine signaling 1, suppressors of cytokine signaling 3 and changes in helper T cells, CD4+ CD25+regulatory T cells in the peripheral blood of children with Kawasaki disease

Objective To investigate the immunological pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease (KD) through examination of changes in the expression of suppressors of cytokine signaling 1(SOCS1) and SOCS3, helper T cells and CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells (CD4+ CD25+Treg) in peripheral blood from children with acute KD. Methods Sixteen children [10 boys, 6 girls, aged 1-2 years old, averaged (1.6±0.3) years old] in the acute phase of KD (KD group), 16 children[9 boys, 7 girls, aged 1-3 years old, averaged (1.5±1.1) years old] with pneumonia (pneumonia group) and 8 normal children [5 boys, 3 girls, aged 1-5 years old, averaged (2.0±1.1) years old] of the same age (normal control group) from the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University who were admitted from October 2012 to March 2013 were recruited.The mRNA levels of SOCS1 and SOCS3 in the T cells from peripheral blood were examined by way of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and CD4+ CD25+ Treg were quantified by means of fluorescence activated cell sorting(FACS). Results The expressions of SOCS1 and SOCS3, the percentage of IL-4 T cells observed in the peripheral blood of the pneumonia group were similar to the normal control group(P>0.05), but significantly decreased in the percentage of INF-γ and the level of CD4+ CD25+Treg (t=3.71, 12.81, all P 0.05). Conclusions The function of helper T cells is inhibited in acute KD.The CD4+ CD25+Treg may be involved in the immunological pathogenesis of KD. Key words: Kawasaki disease; Suppressors of cytokine signaling; Helper T lymphocyte; CD4+ CD25+regulatory T lymphocyte