FCN1 (M-ficolin), which directly associates with immunoglobulin G1, is a molecular target of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for Kawasaki disease.

ABSTRACT: Kawasaki disease (KD), an acute systemic vasculitis of early childhood, is of unknown etiology. High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is an effective treatment, but its molecular target remains elusive. DNA microarray analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) revealed that at least 21 genes are drastically down-regulated after IVIG treatment in most KD patients. qRT-PCR analysis confirmed that the mRNA levels of five of these genes were considerably reduced in almost all KD patients after IVIG treatment. Western blot (Wb) of PBMC extracts revealed that levels of FCN1 (M-ficolin), a protein of the complement system that defends against infectious agents, were reduced after IVIG treatment in many KD patients. In another set of KD patients, Wb confirmed that levels of both

SUBMITTER: Okuzaki D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5595863 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature