Title |
Disseminated Cryptococcosis Due to Anti-Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Autoantibodies in the Absence of Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis
|
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Published in |
Journal of Clinical Immunology, December 2016
|
DOI | 10.1007/s10875-016-0364-4 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Chen-Yen Kuo, Shang-Yu Wang, Han-Po Shih, Kun-Hua Tu, Wen-Chi Huang, Jing-Ya Ding, Chia-Hao Lin, Chun-Fu Yeh, Mao-Wang Ho, Shi-Chuan Chang, Chi-Ying He, Hung-Kai Chen, Chen-Hsuan Ho, Chen-Hsiang Lee, Chih-Yu Chi, Cheng-Lung Ku |
Abstract |
Autoantibodies to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) can cause acquired pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP). Cases of acquired PAP susceptible to typical respiratory pathogens and opportunistic infections have been reported. Anti-GM-CSF autoantibodies have been reported in a few patients with cryptococcal meningitis. This study evaluated the presence of neutralizing anti-GM-CSF autoantibodies in patients without known congenital or acquired immunodeficiency with severe pulmonary or extrapulmonary cryptococcal infection but without PAP. We took a clinical history and performed an immunologic evaluation and screening of anti-cytokine autoantibodies in patients with cryptococcal meningitis. The impact of autoantibodies to GM-CSF on immune function was assessed by intracellular staining of GM-CSF-induced STAT5 phosphorylation and MIP-1α production in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells incubated with plasma from patients or normal control subjects. Neutralizing anti-GM-CSF autoantibodies were identified in four patients with disseminated cryptococcosis, none of whom exhibited PAP. Plasma from patients blocked GM-CSF signaling and inhibited STAT5 phosphorylation and production of MIP-1α. One patient died of disseminated cryptococcosis involving the central nervous system, which was associated with defective GM-CSF activity. Anti-GM-CSF autoantibodies increase susceptibility to cryptococcal infection in adults without PAP. Cryptococcal central nervous system infection associated with anti-GM-CSF autoantibodies could result in neurological sequelae or be life-threatening. Therefore, timely detection of neutralizing anti-GM-CSF autoantibodies and development of an effective therapy are necessary to prevent deterioration of cryptococcal infection in these patients. |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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Unknown | 43 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
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Researcher | 10 | 23% |
Other | 5 | 12% |
Student > Master | 4 | 9% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 3 | 7% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 3 | 7% |
Other | 3 | 7% |
Unknown | 15 | 35% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
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Immunology and Microbiology | 5 | 12% |
Arts and Humanities | 1 | 2% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 1 | 2% |
Business, Management and Accounting | 1 | 2% |
Other | 2 | 5% |
Unknown | 16 | 37% |