High levels of circulating interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 in Kawasaki disease

For analysis of the cytokine network in Kawasaki disease (KD), we measured over time the plasma levels of interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 in patients with KD. Fifteen patients with KD were studied. Eight healthy children were selected as control subjects. Circulating IFN-gamma levels were measured by immunoradiometric assay, and IL-4 and IL-10 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results were as follows: (1) The plasma levels of IFN-gamma in KD patients in the acute phase were significantly higher than the levels of patients in the convalescent phase (p < 0.05) and those of the control children (p < 0.05). (2) The plasma levels of IL-4 in the KD patients in the acute phase were significantly higher than the levels of the patients in the convalescent phase (p = 0.001) and those of the control children (p = 0.001). (3) The plasma levels of IL-10 in the KD patients in the acute phase were significantly higher than the levels of the patients in the convalescent phase (p < 0.03) and those of the control children (p < 0.005). (4) The investigation of the relationship between the IL-4 and IFN-gamma levels during the acute phase of KD demonstrated a significant reciprocal relationship (p < 0.05). (5) There was no significant relationship between the IL-4 and IL-10 levels during the acute phase. However, plasma IL-10 levels were low in the patients with high levels of plasma IL-4, and the patients with high levels of IL-10 revealed low levels of plasma IL-4. The above results suggested that a variety of patterns of cytokine production was present in the acute phase of this disease, and that the key cytokine, which might regulate the cytokine network, was IL-4.