Transforming growth factor-beta signaling pathway in patients with Kawasaki disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is a multifunctional peptide that is important in T-cell activation and cardiovascular remodeling, both of which are important features of Kawasaki disease (KD). We postulated that variation in TGF-β signaling might be important in KD susceptibility and disease outcome.

Methods and results

We investigated genetic variation in 15 genes belonging to the TGF-β pathway in a total of 771 KD subjects of mainly European descent from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Netherlands. We analyzed transcript abundance patterns using microarray and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction for these same genes, and measured TGF-β2 protein levels in plasma. Genetic variants in TGFB2, TGFBR2, and SMAD3 and their hapl

SUBMITTER: Shimizu C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3073847 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature