The relationship between TNF-like protein 1A and coronary artery aneurysms in children with Kawasaki disease

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute, systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology that occurs predominantly in infants and children, and the most crucial complication of KD is coronary artery aneurysm (CAA). Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like protein 1A (TL1A) is a member of the TNF superfamily, which possesses the ability of maintaining vascular homeostasis and regulating immune responses. This study aimed to examine serum TL1A levels in KD patients, and to investigate the relationship between TL1A and CAAs in children with KD. Blood samples were recruited from 119 KD patients, 35 febrile controls (FCs), and 37 healthy controls (HCs). The KD group was further divided into KD with CAAs (KD-CAAs) and KD non-CAAs (KD-NCAAs) groups. Serum TL1A levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and clinical parameters were collected from KD patients. Serum TL1A levels of KD patients in the acute phase of KD were significantly higher than in the FC and HC groups. In particular, serum TL1A levels were substantially increased in the KD-CAA group compared with the KD-NCAA group. Furthermore, TL1A levels in the KD group were positively correlated with the duration of fever and the time point of IVIG and WBC levels, but negatively correlated with levels of RBC, Hb and albumin. TL1A might be involved in KD-associated vasculitis and in the development of CAAs.