Hygiene Hypothesis as the Etiology of Kawasaki Disease: Dysregulation of Early B Cell Development.

ABSTRACT: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis that occurs predominantly in children under 5 years of age. Despite much study, the etiology of KD remains unknown. However, epidemiological and immunological data support the hygiene hypothesis as a possible etiology. It is thought that more sterile or clean modern living environments due to increased use of sanitizing agents, antibiotics, and formula feeding result in a lack of immunological challenges, leading to defective or dysregulated B cell development, accompanied by low IgG and high IgE levels. A lack of B cell immunity may increase sensitivity to unknown environmental triggers that are nonpathogenic in healthy individuals. Genetic studies of KD show that all of the KD susceptibility genes identified by genome-wide association

SUBMITTER: Lee JK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8622879 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature