Production of Chemokines in Kawasaki Disease, Henoch-Schönlein Purpura and Acute Febrile Illness

We compared the production of three chemokines; interferon-γ-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and growth-related oncogene-α (Gro-α) that attracts monocytes or neutrophils, or both, in peripheral blood at acute stage of Kawasaki disease (n=29), Henoch-Schönlein purpura (n=15) and acute febrile illnesses (n=12). The production of the chemokines was assayed by ELISA. The plasma levels of IP-10 were markedly elevated in Kawasaki disease (538.6±336.4 pg/mL) and acute febrile illnesses (417.1±262.2 pg/mL) compared with in Henoch-Schönlein purpura (58.7±95.7 pg/mL) (p<0.05). The MCP-1 levels were elevated in Kawasaki disease (443.0±473.1 pg/mL) and acute febrile illnesses (328.6±261.1 pg/mL) compared with in Henoch-Schönlein purpura (82.9±79.0 pg/mL) (p<0.05). The Gro-α levels were elevated only in acute febrile illnesses (134.3±153.6 pg/mL) compared with in Kawasaki disease (31.8±22.1 pg/mL) or Henoch-Schönlein purpura (29.4±53.3 pg/mL) (p<0.05). According to these results, monocytes may play an important role in Kawasaki disease. In acute febrile illnesses, both monocytes and neutrophils may play an important role. By contrast, Henoch-Schönlein purpura may not be associated with the role of monocytes and neutrophils. Further studies using a larger number of cases are needed.