Association of interleukin-35 polymorphisms with Kawasaki disease in Chinese children

Kawasaki disease is a leading cause of acquired heart disease in children in the developed world, characterised by acute systemic vasculitis, with a complex aetiology that remains poorly understood. Recent studies have highlighted the potential anti-inflammatory effects of Interleukin-35 in various proinflammatory and cardiovascular conditions. However, the relationship between Interleukin-35 gene polymorphisms and Kawasaki disease susceptibility, particularly in Chinese children, has not been well-explored. In this study, we investigated the association between five Interleukin-35 single-nucleotide polymorphisms-rs2243115, rs2243123, rs583911, rs353698, and rs2302164-and Kawasaki disease in a cohort of Chinese children. A total of ninety-four Kawasaki disease patients and one hundred healthy controls were enrolled, with the Kawasaki disease patients further divided into subgroups based on the presence or absence of coronary artery lesions and incomplete or complete Kawasaki disease. Genotyping of Interleukin-35 polymorphisms was performed using the MassARRAY system. The results showed the GT + GG genotypes and G allele of rs2243115 (T > G) were significantly more prevalent in Kawasaki disease patients with coronary artery lesions than in those without coronary artery lesions, suggesting a possible association with the development of coronary artery lesions. Additionally, the G allele of rs353698 (A > G) was more frequently observed in the incomplete Kawasaki disease group compared to the complete Kawasaki disease group, suggesting a possible association with the risk of incomplete Kawasaki disease.