Adipose tissue-derived stem cells suppress coronary arteritis of Kawasaki disease in vivo

Background Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic inflammatory disease resulting in an acute febrile syndrome commonly affecting children younger than 5 years. Coronary arteritis in KD is occasionally non-responsive to several treatments. Recently, adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, and tissue-repair characteristics and are considered a useful treatment for inflammatory disease. The present study aimed to elucidate whether the administration of ADSCs can suppress KD-associated vasculitis in vivo. Methods Candida albicans water-soluble fraction is often used to model KD via the induction of severe coronary arteritis. Kawasaki disease model mice were intravenously administered ADSCs and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). On day 29, the mice were sacrificed and hearts from mice in each group were dissected. This was followed by serum collection. Cardiac tissue sections were subjected to histopathological examination to evaluate the inflammatory area. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the serum were analyzed at days 15 and 29. The survival rates of both groups were compared. Results The mean inflammatory area in coronary arteritis was significantly lower in the ADSC group compared to the PBS group (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1 beta, IL-12, IL-17, RANTES, INF-gamma, and TNF-alpha, in the ADSC group were significantly lower than those in the PBS group. Moreover, the ADSC group had a significantly higher survival rate than the PBS group. Conclusions These findings highlight that ADSCs have anti-inflammatory and immune regulatory functions that could provide novel cell-based therapeutic strategies for severe KD.