Comprehensive DNA/RNA analysis of Kawasaki disease before the onset of symptoms

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26670496
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Pediatrics
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Kojima Seiji 名古屋大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (20313992)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): OKUNO Yusuke 名古屋大学医学部附属病院, 先端医療・臨床研究支援センター, 特任講師 (00725533) ; KATO Taichi 名古屋大学医学部附属病院, 小児科, 講師 (20422777)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 川崎病 / 次世代シーケンス / 感染症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Despite the long history since the discovery of Kawasaki disease, its molecular pathogenesis still remains to be elucidated. In our previous study, we showed that at the very beginning of Kawasaki disease, CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells were significantly decreased. Additionally, several epidemiological evidence suggets the requirement of infection for the development of Kawasaki disease. Based on these concepts, we hypothesized that an initial infection of unknown pathogen decreases T regulatory cells and the second infection of a common pathogen triggers Kawasaki disease onset. Based on this hypothesis, we planned to perform comprehensive DNA/RNA analysis of clinical specimen obtained before the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease. We successfully collected four clinical specimens obtained before the fulfillment of diagnostic criteria; however, we could not identify any pathogenic genomic sequences among these specimens.

Free Research Field

小児科学