Inducible and endothelial constitutive nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphisms in Kawasaki disease

Background : Nitric oxide (NO) is secreted by immune and vascular endothelial cells, and appears to play important roles in the pathophysiology of Kawasaki disease (KD). Thus, genetic variations in NO synthase (NOS) genes may be involved in the development of coronary artery lesions (CAL) in KD. Methods : The present study investigated the association of endothelial constitutive NOS (ecNOS ) and inducible NOS (iNOS ) gene polymorphisms with the development of CAL in KD in a Japanese population. Results : The genotype distributions of 27-bp tandem repeat polymorphism within intron 4 of ecNOS gene did not show any significant difference between controls and KD patients with or without CAL. In addition, there was no significant association between whole-allele distribution of iNOS gene promoter (penta-repeat CCTTT) polymorphism and KD with or without CAL. Conclusion : These results did not support any association of ecNOS and iNOS gene polymorphisms to the development of CAL in KD patients in a Japanese population.