title: Iron overload exacerbates experimental meningoencephalitis by Cryptococcus neoformans.
abstract: This study was aimed at investigating the effects of iron overload on the onset and outcome of cerebral cryptococcosis. To this purpose, iron dextran-administered mice were intracerebrally challenged with virulent melanogenic and avirulent non-melanogenic strains of Cryptococcus neoformans. The results shown here provide the first evidence that iron overload exacerbates the outcome of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis, irrespective of the fungal strain employed; pathogen colonization of the brain is facilitated, local cytokine response is delayed and/or prevented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barluzzi
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saleppico
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nocentini
authors.forename: Johan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Boelaert
authors.forename: Rachele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Neglia
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bistoni
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Blasi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D016919:Meningitis, Cryptococcal / Q000209:etiology*; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000209:etiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout
chemical_list: D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma