Effects of immunoglobulin and gamma-interferon on the production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta by peripheral blood monocytes in the acute phase of Kawasaki disease.

In order to study the in vitro effects of intact immunoglobulin (Ig) and gamma-interferon (INF-gamma) in patients with Kawasaki disease, the production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) was measured in peripheral blood monocytes (PBM) both before and after intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy. Spontaneous production of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta both before and after IVIG therapy was significantly higher than in healthy controls. Intact Ig enhanced in vitro the production of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta both before and after IVIG therapy approximately 3-4 times as compared to the spontaneous production. INF-gamma did not affect the production of the two cytokines. Ig enhanced IL-1 beta mRNA expression in PBM of KD by 3-8 times more than that of spontaneous production.