Proteomic analysis associated with coronary artery dilatation caused by Kawasaki disease using serum exosomes

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate the serum exosome proteome profile of coronary artery dilatation (CAD) caused by Kawasaki disease (KD). METHODS: Two-dimensional electrophoresis was implemented on proteins of serum exosomes obtained from children with CAD caused by KD and from healthy controls. Differentially expressed proteins were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis. RESULTS: We identified 38 differentially expressed proteins (13 up-regulated and 25 down-regulated) from serum exosomes of patients with CAD caused by KD compared with healthy controls. Expression levels of three differentially expressed proteins (leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein, sex hormone-binding globulin, and serotransferrin) were validated using western blot analysis. Classification and protein-protein network analysis showed that they are associated with multiple functional groups involved in the acute inflammatory response, defense response, complement activation, humoral immune response, and response to wounding. The majority of the proteins are involved in the inflammation and coagulation cascades. CONCLUSIONS: These findings establish a comprehensive proteome profile of CAD caused by KD and increase our knowledge of scientific insight into its mechanisms.