Objective: To further explore the mechanism of inhibited apoptosis of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) in acute Kawasaki disease(KD). Methods: The expression level of p53 gene mRNA was determined by dot-blot; p53 protein positive cell percentage was detected by flow cytometry (FCM). Results: The expression of p53 gene mRNA and p53 protein in acute KD patients were decreased (P<0.001)
but increased after treating with intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG) in vivo or adding anti-IL-6 monoantibody(mAb) into PBMC culture in vitro. Conclusion: The decreased expression of p53 gene mRNA and p53 protein may be associated with the high concentration of IL-6 in KD patients. p53 gene expression could induce lymphocyte apoptosis. Thus
the expression of p53 gene inhibited by the increased IL-6 production might be related to delaying or depressing apoptosis of PBMC in KD.