Genetic studies have identified several susceptibility genes for KD and its sequelae in different ethnic populations, including FCGR2A, CD40, ITPKC, FAM167A-BLK and CASP3, as well as genes influencing response to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and aneurysm formation such as FCGR3B, and transforming growth factor (TGF) β pathway genes.
We report two new loci, one at BLK (encoding B-lymphoid tyrosine kinase) and one at CD40, that are associated with Kawasaki disease at genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10(-8)).
Six single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in three loci were associated significantly with KD susceptibility (P<1.0 × 10<sup>-5</sup>), including the previously reported BLK locus (rs6993775, odds ratio (OR)=1.52, P=2.52 × 10<sup>-11</sup>).
We report two new loci, one at BLK (encoding B-lymphoid tyrosine kinase) and one at CD40, that are associated with Kawasaki disease at genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10(-8)).
These associations include ERAP1, CCR1-CCR3, STAT4, KLRC4, GIMAP4, and TNFAIP3 in Behçet's disease; BLK and CD40 in Kawasaki disease; SERPINA1 and SEMA6A in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody associated vasculitides; IL12B and FCGR2A/ FCGR2A in Takayasu arteritis; and CECR1 in a newly defined vascular inflammatory syndrome associated with adenosine deaminase (ADA2) deficiency.