). The following sequences were specifically targeted for human STUB1 cDNA: #1 (5′-AGGCCAAGCACGACAAGTA-3′); #2 (5′-GTGAGAGGGAGCTGGAAGA-3′); #3 (5′-CGCTGGTGGCCGTGTATTA-3′). To establish stable cell lines expressing RNAi, Jurkat E6 cells were transfected with RNAi plasmids by standard retroviral transduction procedures, and selected by puromycin. Total RNA was isolated from Jurkat E6 cells using RNAiso plus reagent (TAKARA) and cDNA was

IWR-1 in vitro synthesized using Superscript III cDNA synthesis kit (Invitrogen). Quantitative PCR reactions were performed on a CFX96 real-time system using the SybrGreen PCR Supermix according to manufacturer’s instructions (Bio-Rad). GAPDH was used as calibrators for normalization. Primer sequences are as following: GAPDH forward: 5′-GAGTCAACGGATTTGGTCGT-3′; GAPDH reverse: 5′-GACAAGCTTCCCGTTCTCAG-3′; IL-2 forward: 5′-GAACTCAAACCTCTGGAGGAAG-3′; Cabozantinib IL-2 reverse: 5′-GCTGTCTCATCAGCATATTCACAC-3′; STUB1 forward: 5′-TCAAGGAGCAGGGCAATCGTCT-3′; STUB1 reverse: 5′-GCATCTTCAGGTAGCACAAGGC-3′. IL-2 in culture medium was measured

using human IL-2 ELISA kit (BOSTER) according to the manufacturer’s instruction. We thank Prof. Youjia Cao (Nankai University, China) for providing Jurkat E6 cells. We thank Prof. Fuquan Yang, Mr. Peng Xue (Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences), and Dr. Ying Li from our laboratory for technical help with mass spectrometry. This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30700417, 30972719, 31170835, and 30921001 to Y. Liu enough and H. B. Shu). The authors declare

no financial or commercial conflict of interest. As a service to our authors and readers, this journal provides supporting information supplied by the authors. Such materials are peer reviewed and may be re-organized for online delivery, but are not copy-edited or typeset. Technical support issues arising from supporting information (other than missing files) should be addressed to the authors. Figure S1. Knockdown of STUB1 inhibits NF-κB activation and IL-2 transcription upon anti-CD3/CD28 stimulation. (A) Jurkat E6 cells (5 × 106) stably transfected with control RNAi or STUB1 RNAi were challenged with anti-CD3/CD28 Abs as indicated. Cell lysates were analyzed by immunoblotting with the indicated Abs (A). The experiments were repeated for three times with similar results. RNA was isolated and mRNA levels of indicated genes were investigated by quantitative real-time PCR (B). The graph show means ± SD, n = 3 (* p < 0.05). Figure S2. Knockdown of STUB1 inhibits the phosphorylation of IKK-α/β and TAK1 under P/I stimulation. Jurkat E6 cells (5 × 106) stably transfected with control RNAi or STUB1 RNAi were challenged with PMA/Ionomycin (P/I) (1 mMeach) as indicated. Cell lysates were analyzed by immunoblotting with the indicated Abs. Figure S3. Interaction between overexpressed STUB1 and pathway members involved in TCR signaling.

SDS-PAGE gels containing polyacrylamide-copolymerized gelatin at a final concentration of 1 mg mL−1 were prepared. After electrophoresis, the gels were washed in 2.5% Triton X-100 and incubated at 37 °C overnight in a calcium assay buffer (40 mM Tris, 200 mM NaCl, 10 mM CaCl2, pH 7.5). After incubation, the gels were stained with Coomassie brilliant blue R-250. Clear zones of lysis against a blue background indicate gelatinolytic activity and were scanned densitometrically to assess gelatinase activity, as described by us previously (Brown et al., 2004). Western blot was analyzed using a chemiluminescence system (ECLtm,

Amersham Life RG7422 concentration Science). Samples were separated by 8% SDS-PAGE and transferred to nitrocellulose membranes. After blocking,

the membranes were incubated with monoclonal primary antibodies overnight and subsequently with alkaline phosphatase-conjugated secondary antibodies for 2 h. After washing, the immunoblots were incubated with chemiluminescent substrate and exposed to an X-ray film. The band densities were quantified by scanning on a laser densitometer (Golub et al., 1995). The gelatinolytic activity of the conditioned media (CM) was assayed using thermally denatured [3H]-labeled collagen heated to 60 °C for 20 min as the gelatin substrate. Aliquots (10 μL) of CM were added and incubated at 37 °C overnight. Trichloroacetic acid (45%) was then added and incubated at 4 °C for 30 min and the samples were then centrifuged. Radioactivity in the supernatants was quantified in a liquid scintillation counter (Golub et al., 1995). Collagenase activity was measured using [3H]-radiolabeled type I collagen Small molecule library as a substrate and by a combination

of SDS-PAGE and fluorography techniques. [3H-methyl] collagen was prepared using the procedure of Bhatnagar & Becker (Yu et al., 1993). Ten microliters of CM were incubated at 22 °C for 24 h with 10 μL Arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase of this soluble [3H-methyl]-type I collagen as a substrate in the presence of 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate (APMA) (to activate procollagenase) added at a final concentration of 1.2 mM. The reaction mixture was stopped by adding 10 × sample buffer, followed by boiling for 5 min before being applied to the gel. After electrophoresis, the gels were fixed with 50% isopropyl alcohol containing 5% acetic acid for 10 min, followed by 5% isopropyl alcohol containing 5% acetic acid twice. The gels were washed four times with distilled water, incubated in Autofluor for 1 h and then dried in a gel dryer at 70 °C. Fluorograms were obtained by exposing the dried gel to a Kodak XAR-5 film at −80 °C for 2 days before development. The fluorograms were scanned in an LKB Ultroscan XL laser densitometer to assess the conversion of the intact collagen α-chains to the αA (i.e. 3/4 α)-collagenase degradation products [these conditions of gel electrophoresis do not allow quantification of the αB (1/4) degradation products] (Golub et al., 1995).

tuberculosis induced CD4+ T-cell-dependent responses. The key findings of the present study are that eight of a total of 157 peptides selected for HLA class I binding induce T-cell responses in PBMC from one or several PPD+ donors (Table 2). In contrast, only four of 10 donors, with low PPD reactivity in ELISPOT

assay, reacted with one or more of the eight antigenic peptides indicating the M. tuberculosis specificity of the responses observed. However, instead of being HLA class I restricted, these responses are apparently restricted DMXAA by HLA class II molecules because the responses are all blocked by anti-HLA-DR antibody added to the ELISPOT assay culture. In addition, according to results from cell depletion and FACS analyses anti-M. tuberculosis peptide responses are mediated by CD4+ T cells. The

eight epitopes discovered are derived from five different M. tuberculosis proteins. Three of these [Rv1979, Rv3144c (PPE52) and Rv3532 (PPE61)] each express two positive CTL epitopes whereas the remaining two proteins [Rv0284 and Rv3507 (PE_PGRS)] only harbour a single epitope. Interestingly, six of the eight positive epitopes are derived from the PE/PPE gene family of conserved mycobacterial proteins (Table 2). The PE/PPE gene family is interesting from an immunological point of view because they comprise approximately GDC-0068 in vitro 10% of the M. tuberculosis genome and may be a source of antigenic variation, which the bacterium uses to evade the host immune response.34 These proteins are surface-associated cell wall proteins and may also be accessible to antibodies.40 The B-cell and T-cell

immune responses have been reported against both PE and PPE proteins, but their immunological check details significance remains largely unknown.41–44 Only a few T-cell epitopes have been identified for the PE/PPE gene family. Two have been found in PE-PGRS proteins (Rv1818c and Rv3812) and one in PPE protein (Rv3018c). In the present study we report five new epitopes for the PE/PPE gene family: a single epitope for the Rv3507 (PE_PGRS) and four new epitopes for the PPE proteins [Rv3144c (PPE52) and Rv3532 (PPE61)]. Regarding the phenotype of M. tuberculosis peptide-responding T cells, our data from T-cell depletion of PBMC before ELISPOT and FACS analyses showed that the responding T cells are indeed CD4+ T cells. In our previous studies 26–28 in which we probed for specific T-cell immunity in PBMC against pox and flu virus-derived HLA-I binding peptides, respectively, HLA-I and HLA-II antibody blocking experiments and CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell depletion experiments showed that peptide reactivity was initiated by either CD4+ or CD8+ T cells but never by both subsets in the same ELISPOT culture. It is generally accepted that HLA class I binding peptides are composed of 8–11 amino acids, whereas HLA class II binding peptides consist of 15–20 amino acids being recognized by CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, respectively.

A number of endogenous and exogenous factors, such as cytokines and growth factors as well as certain antifungal agents have been found that they influence innate immune response to these organisms. Used alone or especially in combination have been shown to selleck exert antifungal effects against Mucorales species. These findings suggest novel ways of adjunctive therapy for patients with invasive mucormycosis. Infections caused by Mucorales have been reported with increasing frequency in recent years and still cause unacceptably high morbidity

and mortality. A number of risk factors are known to be associated with invasive mucormycosis, including haematologic malignancies and transplantation, iron overload, diabetes and ketoacidosis, birth prematurity and possibly prior exposure to certain Aspergillus-active antifungal agents [i.e. voriconazole (VRC) and caspofungin (CAS)].[1-3] In the haematology

patients, the cumulative incidence of mucormycosis in Europe and the United States has been increasing during the last decade, recording high mortality rates and suboptimal outcomes with currently available therapy.[4-7] Among clinically relevant Mucorales, the most frequent species are Rhizopus oryzae and Rhizopus microsporus. Cunninghamella bertholletiae is less CYC202 in vivo commonly encountered but associated with more severe infections.[8] By comparison, Lichtheimia corymbifera is a less virulent and infrequent MycoClean Mycoplasma Removal Kit pathogen.[9] Sporangiospores of Mucorales invade into patients through either airways

or mucosa of alimentary tract or through the skin. The alimentary tract is the route of invasion in premature neonates with gastrointestinal mucormycosis. Similarly, Mucorales colonising gauzes, wooden sticks or other materials used into contact with the skin have caused outbreaks of cutaneous or invasive mucormycosis in neonates and other patients.[10] Mucorales can also enter subcutaneous tissues through catheter sites. When sporangiospores enter tissues, they progress to hyphae. The initial host defences against sporangiospores of Mucorales are intact barriers, i.e. skin and respiratory as well as intestinal mucosa. Innate immune cells such as neutrophils, monocytes/macrophages and dendritic cells are important in the host defences against these organisms. Immunosuppression is among the most important risk factors for mucormycosis. Rhizopus oryzae is recognised by Toll-like receptor-2 and up-regulates release of a number of cytokines and chemokines from phagocytes, among which are TNF-α and IL-6.[11, 12] Toll receptors in Drosophila play a significant role in innate immune response to R. oryzae.[11] This organism is more resistant to phagocytosis and hyphal damage than A. fumigatus.[13, 14] There are several lines of in vitro evidence showing that R.

In another neutropenic murine model of disseminated mucormycosis due to R. microsporus, mice were treated with posaconazole (PSC) (40 mg/kg/day) or G-CSF (300 μg/kg/day) or with the combination of PSC and G-CSF.[32] Treatment with G-CSF alone had no significant effect on survival or fungal burden in brain, liver, kidneys and lung. In addition, combination therapy was not superior to PSC monotherapy in terms of survival or reduction in fungal burden in various organs. The use of the above cytokines as adjunctive therapy for treatment of mucormycosis in clinical practice has not been systematically studied; Aloxistatin there are no randomised controlled

trials investigating possible benefits associated with cytokine administration. In the comprehensive review of 929 reported cases of patients with mucormycosis, MLN0128 Roden et al.

found a survival rate of 83% in 18 patients who received G-CSF as adjunctive treatment, as compared to 70% in 470 patients, who were treated with surgery plus antifungal therapy, and 69% in 116 patients who were treated with amphotericin B (AmB) lipid formulations[20]; these findings, however, need to be interpreted with caution as differences in outcome may be due to a number of confounding factors. A number of case reports and small series have also been published on the use of G-CSF, GM-CSF and IFN-γ in neutropenic and non-neutropenic patients with mucormycosis.[34-39] Based on the review of published evidence, guidelines from the 3rd European Conference on Infections in leukaemia (ECIL 3) state that hematopoietic growth factors (G-CSF, GM-CSF) should be used in patients with neutropenia and mucormycosis to Farnesyltransferase reverse the underlying risk factor (strength of recommendation and quality of evidence: BIII); however, the use of these cytokines in non-neutropenic patients cannot be recommended at this point.[40] Similar recommendation is given by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) and the European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM) joint guidelines.[41] Appropriately

designed clinical trials are needed to investigate the role of adjunctive cytokine therapy, particularly in non-neutropenic patients with mucormycosis. Mucorales show a resistant phenotype to most existing azoles and echinocandins with high MIC values and generally decreased susceptibility as compared to AmB formulations.[42, 43] Among the azoles, the fact that PSC and/or itraconazole are most active against different Mucorales has been attributed to their ability to accumulate within the fungal organism and stably bind to CYP51 target protein by means of their long side chain, absent from VRC or fluconazole.[42] Current in vitro and animal data show that Mucorales, being a heterogeneous group of organisms, display variable susceptibility profiles to azoles.

Jose Villadangos (Australia) acquainted the audience with the cell biology of pathogen detection, processing and presentation by DCs. Similarly, Ram Raj Singh (USA) discussed the mechanisms and role of Langerhans cells in auto-immune skin inflammation. Dominique Charron (France) highlighted the challenges faced during stem cell therapy including allogenicity and immunogenicity. The last lecture of this symposium was delivered by Stephen Minger

(UK) on the therapeutic and research potential of human stem cells. The afternoon session of the first day included three parallel workshops on immune regulatory mechanisms, infection, immunity, autoimmunity and tolerance. The workshop sessions of the third day were devoted to the topics of tumor and transplant immunology, vaccines, adjuvants

and diagnostics. These Selleck Opaganib sessions included short oral presentations selected from the submitted abstracts on a competitive basis and CH5424802 datasheet consisted mostly of young scientists presenting their research work. Uma Kanga as joint organizing secretary of the Congress put in a lot of hard work in getting more than 400 submitted abstracts evaluated according to specified criteria by about 40 senior immunologists drawn from various countries in the region. Based on the evaluations the abstracts were grouped into posters or oral presentations and, of the latter, those ranked in the top ten were PJ34 HCl included in a separate session. One of the highlights of the FIMSA 2012 Congress was the ‘Ten best oral presentations’ session in which 10 participants, selected by a panel of experts on the basis of their submitted abstracts, presented their work in the spirit of healthy competition. A panel of judges then selected the best three for an award of US$ 500 each, kindly made available by the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (facilitated by the Editor-in-Chief, Douglas Braaten), which is published by Wiley on behalf

of The New York Academy of Sciences. The awardees included Khalid Hussain Bhatt (India), Fatima Mami Chouaib (France) and Neeraj Kumar (India). The evening of the first day was occupied by a round table session on the very important topic of Gender Equality and Career Development and it was very keenly attended by a large gathering. The session was moderated by Olivera Finn (USA) and Narinder Mehra (India). Nirmal Ganguly (India) presented an overview of the global scenario with particular reference to the lack of opportunities to woman scientists, even in an economically advancing country like India. The panelists who took an active part in discussion included Paola Castagnoli (Singapore), Geetha Bansal (USA), Krishan Lal (President, Indian National Science Academy), Amarjeet Chandhiok (Additional Solicitor General, Govt of India), and Rose Ffrench (Australia).

[55] Leukotrienes are synthesized in response to a large spectrum of various infectious agents and enhance the capacity of macrophages and other immune cells to ingest and kill microbes and to produce antimicrobial mediators. In animal models of infection, genetic or pharmacological interference with leukotriene synthesis or signalling massively impairs local microbial clearance.[56] In summary,

these data imply that see more certain levels of leukotrienes are indispensable to control microbial invaders and to maintain local immune reactivity not only in the lung but also in the gastrointestinal tract. Similar to prostanoids, the SCFA n-butyrate brings about interference with immune cell activation at key stages of immune cell activation inhibiting dendritic cell maturation and consequent T-cell actions. Previous studies demonstrated that pre-treatment of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells or monocytes as well as monocyte-derived dendritic cells with this agent resulted in a dose- and time-dependent down-regulation

of their capability to stimulate T-cell responses.[8, 9, 22, 56-61] Therefore, it is tempting to speculate that n-butyrate itself, or through induction of mediators like eicosanoids, may contribute to the generation of an anti-inflammatory immune responsiveness. As the presence of n-butyrate is largely restricted to the gastrointestinal tract and immunological Teicoplanin features of this region have striking similarities to the effects brought about by KU-60019 chemical structure this physiologically occurring substance, further elucidation of the underlying principles appears

promising. There are several potential transcriptional regulatory elements in the promotor region of the COX-2 gene including a peroxisome proliferator response element, two cAMP response elements, a sterol response element, two NF-κB sites, an SP1 site, a CAAT enhancer binding protein motif, two AP-2 sites, an E-box, and a Tata box.[63] Previous studies have shown that cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and NF-κB are particularly important in LPS-induced COX-2 transcription indicating that p65/p50 heterodimer together with CREB is required for an early phase of rapid induction and the p50 homodimer together with CREB is crucial during later phases.[63] Testing the impact of n-butyrate treatment on LPS triggering, we found that the early phase of NF-κB signalling including IκB phosphorylation, IκB degradation and phosphorylation of p65 and p50 was completely unaffected. The late phase of the classical NF-κB pathway, as indicated by p65/p50 DNA binding, however, was profoundly inhibited. These finding are in agreement with previous studies[25, 64-66] showing inhibition of NF-κB signalling by n-butyrate. Furthermore, we were able to demonstrate that phosporylation of p105, the precursor for the formation of p50 homodimer, was also sustained.

Case: A 44-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of thrombocytopenia and hemolytic anemia. She was diagnosed as SLE twelve years ago and has been treated with immunosuppressive agents, while she experienced a relapse six years ago by lupus nephritis (class III+V). Six months ago she presented with pleurisies and was treated with an increased dose of prednisolone (30 mg/day), which was then gradually tapered to

10 mg/day. The hemoglobin and platelet counts was 6.0 and 200,000/ml, respectively, two weeks before admission, but just after prednisolone was tapered to 8 mg/day, she suddenly presented with thrombocytopenia (16,000/ml), hemolytic selleck chemicals anemia with schistocytes and hematuria/proteinuria with eGFR mildly declined (25.3 ml/min/1.73 m2). The ADAMTS13 activity was below 5% with a positive anti-ADAMTS13 antibody, while the activity of SLE at that time was considered low based

on unremarkable clinical findings and normal titers of serum complement and anti-nuclear autoantibody. She was diagnosed as TTP associated with SLE and steroid pulse therapy by intravenous methylprednisolone was immediately initiated, followed by oral administration Saracatinib of prednisolone (60 mg/day). The platelet count was dramatically improved over 200,000/ml within two weeks and hematuria/proteinuria ameliorated without introduction of plasma exchange. Renal biopsy revealed

mild endothelial Dipeptidyl peptidase cell swelling and the detachment of endothelial cells from the glomerular basement membrane, suggesting the presence of endothelial injury compatible with thrombotic microangiopathy. Discussion and Conclusion: This is a rare case of TTP in a patient with SLE in remission that was successfully treated with glucocorticoid without plasma exchange, suggesting that early immunosuppressive therapy may be useful for patients with TTP secondary to autoimmune disease when renal involvement remains relatively mild. HANDAJANINGRUM ITA MURBANI, NURAINI AYUDIAH, PARTININGRUM DWI LESTARI, LESTARININGSIH LESTARININGSIH, CHASANI SHOFA, ARWANTO ARWEDI Indonesian Nephrologis Association (Pernefri) Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease caused by immune dysregulation and affects essentiallyall organ systems in the body. Renal disease is observed in most patients with SLE at some point in the course of their disease and nearly 50% of all patients with SLE develop renal disease in the first year of diagnosis. Renal biopsy in patients with SLE and any clinical evidence of renal disease is important for diagnosis and further management.

Lymphocyte encounters

with interendothelial junctions were determined by following the track of each lymphocyte on the videomicrographs over the characteristic phase-bright band between adjacent EC. In a second technique, lymphocytes were stained with CellTracker Orange according to the manufacturers instructions, then were made to interact with HUVEC monlayer in the parallel-plate flow chamber. After 10 min of shear stress application, the chamber was disassembled, and the cells were stained for VE-cadherin. To study diapedesis, the location of each lymphocyte relative to VE-cadherin staining was analyzed using a LSM 510 confocal microscope (Zeiss, Toronto, Ont., Canada) set to acquire images at 0.4 μm intervals in the z-plane. Lymphocytes were considered

to be associated CT99021 with gap formation in the AJ if a break in endothelial VE-cadherin staining at least 2 μm wide was directly superimposed on the lymphocyte footprint. Lymphocytes were scored by blinded observer for the relationship in the z-plane to the VE-cadherin signal. To study the PECAM-1 enrichment around lymphocytes in the process of diapedesis, PECAM-1bright naïve T cells (CD45RA+) cells were depleted using CD45RA TAC (StemCell Technologies). The cells were stained with CellTracker Blue and were made to interact with the HUVEC monlayer in the parallel-plate flow chamber. After 10 min of shear stress application, the chamber was disassembled, and the cells were double stained for VE-cadherin and PECAM-1. Confluent HUVEC Celastrol monolayers seeded on Matrigel-coated selleck chemical glass coverlips were treated with either DMSO or ND. Cells were fixed,

permeabilized, and blocked as described previously 46. The cells were then double-stained using anti-β-tubulin and anti-VE-cadherin primary and fluorophore-conjugated secondary antibodies. To determine MT and AJ morphology in cells treated with non-silencing or IQGAP1 RNAi, transfected HUVEC were trypsinized and seeded on coverslips at confluency. The monolayer was stained with either β-catenin or double-stained for MT and VE-cadherin. MT density adjacent to AJ was measured using image analysis software (OpenLab, Lexington, MA, USA). Regions of interest were defined extending 3 μm into the cell cortex from VE-cadherin-positive junctions to quantitate MT staining intensity in at least 30 cells in each experiment. To evaluate F-actin cytoskeleton changes, confluent HUVEC monolayers were fixed and permeabilized and F-actin was stained by FITC-phalloidin. To determine the effect of TNF-α treatment and shear stress on junction staining, HUVEC were treated with TNF-α and subjected to shear stress in conditions as described for TEM assay but with no lymphocytes. Then cells were fixed and permeabilized and stained for VE-cadherin, PECAM-1, and Jam-1. CD99 was stained without permeabilization.

05), while antagonistic cytokines like IFN-γ were increased in acute phase of KD (P < 0.05) and reduced after therapy with IVIG (P < 0.05). These results suggest that aberrantly decreased levels of NKG2D expression on NK cells and CD8+T cells might be one of the factors

led to disturbed immunological function in patients with KD. Rapamycin solubility dmso Cytokines milieu could be important factors causing reduced expression of NKG2D. Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis that affects infants and children. At present, the pathogenesis of KD remains to be further investigated. However, there is a large body of evidence that immunological disturbances play a key role in the pathogenesis of KD. A great many studies have found that the levels of many proinflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 are elevated in acute KD, but the mechanisms resulting in aberrant immune function or overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines are not completely clear [1-3]. NKG2D is a C-type lectin-like type II transmembrane glycoprotein. It expressed on immunocompetent cells, such as natural-killer (NK) cells, CD8+ cytotoxic lymphocytes (CD8+T), NKT cells and γδT cells and participates in the regulation of innate and adaptive immune response through enhancing their killing activity. It has been

demonstrated that NKG2D expression is induced MK2206 on NK cells and CD8+T cells by their activation [4-6]. Accumulated evidences suggest that peripheral CD8+T cells may be functionally suppressed in acute phase of KD. Previous studies have shown a reduction in the total number of CD8+T cells in the peripheral blood of KD patients [7]. However, the expression of NKG2D on NK cells and CD8+T cells in the acute phase of KD is still required to be investigated. In this study, flow cytometry (FCM) was used to detect the expression of NKG2A/NKG2D on CD8+T cells and CD3−CD56+ NK cells in patients with KD, both in the acute phase and after IVIG therapy. The cytokines regulating expression of NKG2D such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-7, IL-12, IL-15, interferon (IFN)-γ CYTH4 and transforming growth factor

(TGF)-β were also evaluated in this study. Aberrantly, decreased levels of NKG2D expression were found in acute phase of KD patients, suggesting that downregulation expression of NKG2D might be one of the factors led to disturbed immunological function in KD. Forty-six children with KD admitted to the Shenzhen Children Hospital between June 2011 and April 2012 were included in the study. The patients comprised 26 males and 20 females (mean age: 26.33 ± 23.82 months; age range: 2 months–5 years). The diagnosis was carried out according to the clinical criteria of the Kawasaki Disease Research Committee of Japan. Blood samples were obtained before treatment with 2 g/kg/day intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG, mean duration of illness, 6.3 days; range, 3–12 days) and after IVIG treatment (mean duration of illness, 12.0 days; range, 8–20 days).