The Augmented Productions of Neopterin and Cytokines from Macrophages/monocytes in vitro

In Kawasaki disease patients, increases in excretion of urinary neopterin coincided with fever and monocytosis in peripheral blood. We examined the products of neopterin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) and Interleukin-1 β (1L-1β) from healthy adult macrophages/monocytes (Mφ>/M), after stimulation with several activators to obtain some understanding of Kawasaki disease. Upon stimulation with either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or polyinosinate-polycytidylate (Poly I:C), the Mφ/M released neopterin and pyogenic products (TNF-α or 1L-1β). The release of neopterin was eliminated by the addition of the anti-interferon-y antibody. The production of both TNF-α, 1L-1β and neopterin from Mφ/M upon stimulation of LPS was augmented in a co-culture with low dose recombinant interferon-y (rIFN-γ). Upon stimulation with rIFN-γ alone, however, the Mφ/M released neopterin but not the pyogenic products. A preliminary examination failed to detect. any difference in the response of the Mφ/M in adults annd children after stimulation with LPS. We concluded that some endotoxins could trigger the onset of Kawasaki disease and that endogenous IFN-γ can play an important role in the abnormality of Kawasaki disease patients