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Published on: January 28, 2020
Association Between Thymosin β4 and Coronary Arterial Lesions in Children with Kawasaki Disease
Jinhui Wu1, Penghui Yang1, Jing Zhang1
1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatric Metabolism and Inflammatory Diseases, Key Laboratory of Children's Important Organ Development and Diseases of Chongqing Municipal Health Commission, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, National Clinical Key Cardiovascular Specialty, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, People's Republic of China.
Insights
Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) levels are lower in children with Kawasaki disease (KD), especially those with coronary artery lesions. Tβ4 may play a role in KD inflammation and lesion development, offering potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric rheumatology
- Immunology
- Cardiovascular research
Background:
- Kawasaki disease (KD) is a critical pediatric vasculitis linked to acquired heart disease.
- Inflammation is a key factor in KD pathogenesis.
- Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) is known for cardiovascular protection but its role in KD is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the involvement of Tβ4 in KD pathogenesis.
- To examine the relationship between Tβ4, inflammation, and coronary artery lesions (CALs) in KD.
Main Methods:
- Serum Tβ4 levels were measured using ELISA in children with KD and healthy controls.
- KD patients were stratified based on the presence or absence of CALs.
- Correlations between Tβ4 and clinical/laboratory markers, including inflammatory cytokines, were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Children with KD exhibited significantly lower serum Tβ4 levels than controls.
- Tβ4 levels were further reduced in KD patients with CALs.
- Tβ4 levels increased post-intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment and showed negative correlations with pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines.
Conclusions:
- Reduced Tβ4 levels in KD patients, particularly those with CALs, suggest its involvement in KD's inflammatory processes.
- Tβ4 may be a potential biomarker for KD and CAL progression.
- Tβ4 could be a future therapeutic target for Kawasaki disease.
Background:
Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis primarily affecting children and is a leading cause of acquired heart disease in developed countries. Recently, an increasing number of studies have demonstrated the close correlations between inflammation and KD. Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) has been reported to play a role in cardiovascular protection and repair by modulating inflammation, angiogenesis, and endothelial function. However, its role in KD still remains poorly understood. This study aims to explore the potential involvement of Tβ4 in the pathogenesis of KD, with a particular focus on its relationship to inflammation and coronary artery lesions (CALs).
Methods:
Serum Tβ4 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in children with KD and age-matched healthy controls. The KD group was further categorized into patients with and without CALs. Correlation analyses were performed between Tβ4 levels and clinical or laboratory parameters.
Results:
Serum Tβ4 levels were significantly lower in patients with KD compared to healthy controls and were further reduced in patients with CALs. After intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment, Tβ4 levels significantly increased. Tβ4 levels were negatively correlated with several pro-inflammatory (eg, TNF-α, IL-1β) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (eg, IL-4, IL-10).
Conclusion:
Tβ4 levels were significantly lower in children with KD, particularly in those with CALs. These findings suggest that Tβ4 may be involved in the inflammatory pathogenesis of KD and the progression of CALs, thus could represent a potential target for future diagnostic or therapeutic interventions.
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