Multi-omics integration explores shared transcriptomic and immune signatures between pediatric Kawasaki disease and asthma
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Kawasaki disease (KD), the most common acquired heart disease in children with rising global incidence, significantly increases risk for later allergic diseases. KD-asthma comorbidity escalates medical needs and treatment complexity, necessitating a deeper understanding of their relationship. Therefore, this study aimed to explore shared transcriptomic profiles, immune cell landscapes, and key susceptibility genes between pediatric KD and asthma through multi-omics integration. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed allergic disease incidence in KD patients at the Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and recruited 13 KD-asthma children for single-cell RNA sequencing. Common susceptibility genes were identified through literature mining and differential analysis of public datasets. Bioinformatics methods explored immune cell landscapes, gene expression profiles, and functional characteristics. Results: Retrospective analysis of 222 pediatric KD patients revealed that 47.74% later developed allergic diseases. A systematic review of nearly 5,000 articles identified shared susceptibility genes significantly enriched in immune processes and signaling pathways. Single-cell RNA sequencing of 13 children showed distinct immune cell compositions and expression profiles versus controls. Both diseases exhibited enrichment of inflammatory and extracellular vesicle-related genes. Molecular function analysis showed that asthma differentially expressed genes primarily involved antigen binding and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II protein complex binding, while KD genes involved Toll-like receptor binding and calcium-dependent protein binding. Conclusions: This study suggests a potential immunological link between KD and subsequent allergic conditions. Shared susceptibility genes and transcriptomic profiles are significantly enriched in inflammatory and vesicle-related pathways, providing insights into the biological overlap between these conditions.
Source: Translational Pediatrics
Institutions: Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Children's Hospital
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7223269321