title: Functional defect of natural immune system in an apparent immunocompetent patient with pulmonary cryptococcosis.
abstract: We report a case of pulmonary cryptococcosis in a 21-year-old Italian female smoker with no apparent immune disorder. In this study we demonstrated that: (i) patient's neutrophils and monocytes manifested a significant reduction of killing activity against Cryptococcus neoformans as well as Candida albicans; (ii) the suppression was more pronounced in monocytes than in neutrophils; (iii) neutrophils and monocytes showed a significant impairment of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and nitric oxide production. These results suggest that the apparent immunocompetent host with pulmonary cryptococcosis could have specific defects in natural immune system mechanisms.
authors: Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Marroni
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Pericolini
authors: Elio
authors: E
authors: Cenci
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Bistoni
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Vecchiarelli