High serum levels of M-CSF and G-CSF in Kawasaki disease.

To examine any role of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), in the immune responses in Kawasaki disease (KD), we serially assayed M-CSF and several related cytokines using ELISA. In 10 paediatric patients with KD the level of M-CSF was significantly higher in the acute phase than in the convalescent phase (1476.1 +/- 443.6 v 805.0 +/- 184.7 U/ml). Higher levels of serum granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and interleukin-6 were also found in the acute phase. These results suggest that M-CSF, G-CSF and interleukin-6, derived from monocytes as monokines or derived from vascular endothelial cells, might play an important role in the acute phase of KD.