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Tight junction protein ZO-1 in Kawasaki disease

Wan-Tz Lai1,2, Hung-Chang Lee3, Ying-Hsien Huang4,5

  • 1Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

BMC Pediatrics
|April 1, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Lower serum zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) levels are linked to coronary artery lesions (CAL) in Kawasaki disease (KD) patients. This finding suggests ZO-1 may be a risk factor for CAL formation in KD.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis associated with coronary artery lesions (CAL).
  • Intestinal barrier integrity, maintained by tight junctions like zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), plays a role in systemic inflammation.
  • Previous studies indicate altered ZO-1 levels in asthma and cirrhosis, suggesting its involvement in inflammatory conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of tight junction zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in Kawasaki disease (KD).
  • To assess the association between serum ZO-1 levels and treatment response to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).
  • To determine the correlation between serum ZO-1 levels and the development of coronary artery lesions (CAL) in KD patients.

Main Methods:

  • Enrolled 40 KD patients, 12 healthy controls, and 12 febrile controls.
  • Measured serum levels of tight junction ZO-1 using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  • Analyzed the relationship between ZO-1 levels, IVIG treatment response, and CAL formation.

Main Results:

  • Serum ZO-1 levels were lower in KD patients compared to fever controls, though not statistically significant.
  • KD patients receiving a second IVIG dose showed higher serum ZO-1 levels, but this was not statistically significant.
  • Significantly lower serum ZO-1 levels were observed in KD patients who developed CAL compared to those without CAL (1.89 vs. 2.39 ng/mL, p=0.027).
  • Logistic regression identified lower ZO-1 levels as a risk factor for CAL formation (OR=0.235, p=0.041).

Conclusions:

  • Serum tight junction ZO-1 levels are lower in Kawasaki disease patients.
  • Decreased serum ZO-1 levels are associated with the formation of coronary artery lesions in KD.
  • ZO-1 may serve as a potential biomarker for predicting CAL development in KD patients.
Abstract

Keywords:
Coronary artery lesionsKawasaki diseaseTight junction protein

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