Work

Spatial profiling of Kawasaki disease cardiac inflammation identifies STING as a therapeutic target

Year: 2026

Type: preprint

Abstract: mechanisms underlying the development of coronary arteritis in Kawasaki disease (KD), the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children, remain poorly defined. We characterized the cellular composition and spatial organization of cardiac inflammation in autopsy coronary artery (CA) specimens from KD patients using 64-plex immunofluorescence. We identified spatially organized immune infiltrates of neutrophils, macrophages, and T cells associated with arterial wall destruction and remodeling, as well as disrupted stromal-muscle cell colocalization and diffuse myocardial inflammation. Spatial analysis also revealed expression of the innate immune sensor STING in myeloid cells in KD CA tissues. Pharmacological and genetic inhibition of STING reduced vasculitis development in a mouse model of KD. These findings define the spatial immune architecture of KD cardiac inflammation, reveal inflammatory injury beyond the coronary arteries, and identify STING as a potential therapeutic target for treatment-resistant or severe KD.

Source: bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

DOI: 10.64898/2026.10.16.757759

Authors: Benjamin L. Ross, Asli E. Atici, Youngho Lee, Paul Ngai, Emily Schahrer, Malcolm E. Lane, Michael F. Fishbein, Yuki Yokouchi, Kei Takahashi, Moshe Arditi, David Zemmour, Magali Noval Rivas

Institutions: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, University of Chicago, University of Chicago Medical Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Toho University Ohashi Medical Center, Cedars-Sinai Smidt Heart Institute

Language: English

Topic: Kawasaki Disease and Coronary Complications

Subfield: Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

OpenAlex ID: W7223239210

Cites: 80

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Related to: 10