Paracoccidioides brasiliensis disseminated disease in a patient with inherited deficiency in the beta1 subunit of the interleukin (IL)-12/IL-23 receptor.
BACKGROUND
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is a facultative intracellular dimorphic fungus that causes paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), the most important deep mycosis in Latin America. Only a small percentage of individuals infected by P. brasiliensis develop clinical PCM, possibly in part because of genetically determined interindividual variability of host immunity. However, no primary immunodeficiency has ever been associated with PCM.


METHODS
We describe the first patient, to our knowledge, with PCM and a well-defined primary immunodeficiency in the beta 1 subunit of the interleukin (IL)-12/IL-23 receptor, a disorder previously shown to be specifically associated with impaired interferon (IFN)-gamma production, mycobacteriosis, and salmonellosis.


RESULTS
Our patient had a childhood history of bacille Calmette-Guérin disease and nontyphoid salmonellosis and, at the age of 20 years, presented to our clinic with a disseminated (acute) form of PCM. He responded well to antifungal treatment and is now doing well at 24 years of age.


CONCLUSIONS
This unique observation supports previous studies of PCM suggesting that IL-12, IL-23, and IFN-gamma play an important role in protective immunity to P. brasiliensis. Tuberculosis and PCM are thus not only related clinically and pathologically, but also by their immunological pathogenesis. Our study further expands the spectrum of clinical manifestations of inherited defects of the IL-12/IL-23-IFN-gamma axis. Patients with unexplained deep fungal infections, such as PCM, should be tested for defects in the IL-12/IL-23-IFN- gamma axis.
Moraes-Vasconcelos
Dewton de
Dd
Primary Immunodeficiencies Outpatient Unit, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil. dmvascon@usp.br
Grumach
Anete S
AS
Yamaguti
Augusto
A
Andrade
Maria Elisa B
ME
Fieschi
Claire
C
de Beaucoudrey
Ludovic
L
Casanova
Jean-Laurent
JL
Duarte
Alberto J S
AJ
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000235:genetics*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000172:deficiency*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000172:deficiency*; D053759:Interleukin-23; D053760:Interleukin-23 Subunit p19; D007378:Interleukins / Q000172:deficiency*; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D010228:Paracoccidioides; D010229:Paracoccidioidomycosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D053707:Receptors, Interleukin-12
C508438:IL12RB1 protein, human; C508840:IL23A protein, human; D053759:Interleukin-23; D053760:Interleukin-23 Subunit p19; D007378:Interleukins; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D053707:Receptors, Interleukin-12; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma