Tight junction protein ZO-1 in Kawasaki disease

Abstract

BackgroundKawasaki disease (KD) is a form of systemic febrile vasculitis that can be complicated by coronary artery lesions (CAL). A murine model of KD vasculitis showed that the vasculitis depended on intestinal barrier dysfunction, as well as that the tight junctions maintain the intestinal barrier. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of tight junction Zonula occludens-1 (Zo-1) in intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment response and the occurrence of CAL formation in KD patients.MethodsForty KD patients, 12 healthy controls, and 12 febrile controls were enrolled in this study. Tight junction ZO-1 levels were measured in sera by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsThe serum Zo-1 level was higher in the fever control group but did not achieve statistical significance. Patients who received a second dose of IVIG due to a failure to respond to the initial IVIG treatment had a higher serum tight junction Zo-1 level, but also without statistical significance (p value =0.0582). Patients who developed a coronary artery lesion had a lower serum tight junction Zo-1 level with statistical significance (p value =0.0275).ConclusionsTight junction ZO-1 levels decrease in KD patients with coronary artery lesions and are associated with the intestinal barrier dysfunction of Kawasaki disease and the occurrence of CAL in KD patients.