Transforming growth factor-beta signaling pathway in patients with Kawasaki disease.

Background: Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is a multifunctional peptide that is important in T-cell activation and cardiovascular remodeling, both of which are important features of Kawasaki disease (KD). We postulated that variation in TGF-β signaling might be important in KD susceptibility and disease outcome.

Methods And Results: We investigated genetic variation in 15 genes belonging to the TGF-β pathway in a total of 771 KD subjects of mainly European descent from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Netherlands.