title: Assessment of Aspergillus-specific T cells for diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in a leukemic child with liver lesions mimicking hepatosplenic candidiasis.
abstract: A child with acute myeloid leukemia presented with multiple liver lesions mimicking hepatosplenic candidiasis during the neutropenic phase following the induction chemotherapy. All the available diagnostic tools showed repeatedly negative results, including galactomannan. An enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay showed a high number of Aspergillus-specific T cells producing interleukin-10 [TH2(IL-10)] and a low number of Aspergillus-specific T cells producing gamma interferon [TH1(IFN-gamma)], revealing invasive aspergillosis (IA) before the confirmatory biopsy. A progressive skewing from the predominance of TH2(IL-10) to a predominance of TH1(IFN-gamma) was observed close to the complete resolution of the infection and foreshadowed the outcome. The ELISPOT assay holds promise for diagnosing pediatric IA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Azienda Ospedaliera Policlinico, 41100 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Potenza
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barozzi
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palazzi
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vallerini
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cellini
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morselli
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Volzone
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Venturelli
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Quadrelli
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Pancrazio
authors.forename: Maria Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cano
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paolucci
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Torelli
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luppi
mesh_terms: D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000276:immunology*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000150:complications*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma