Autoantibodies Neutralizing GM-CSF in HIV-Negative Colombian Patients Infected with Cryptococcus gattii and C. neoformans

• DOI: 10.1007/s10875-024-01757-y
• Publication Date: 2024-07-15T07:02:02Z
• Authors: Carlos A. Arango-...; Julian Rojas; Carolina Firacative; Mélanie Migaud; Clara Inés Agudelo; José Luis Franco; Jean-Laurent Casa...; Anne Puel; Jairo Lizarazo; Elizabeth Castañeda; Andrés A. Arias
• Keywords: Male; Adult; 0303 health sciences; Research; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; Cryptococcus gattii; Cryptococcosis; Colombia; Middle Aged; Antibodies, Neutralizing; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; HIV Seronegativity; Cryptococcus neoformans; Humans; Female; Autoantibodies; Retrospective Studies; Aged

Abstract Background Cryptococcosis is a life-threatening disease caused by Cryptococcus neoformans or C. gattii. Neutralizing autoantibodies (auto-Abs) against granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in otherwise healthy adults with cryptococcal meningitis have been described since 2013. We searched for neutralizing auto-Abs in sera collected from Colombian patients with non-HIV-associated cryptococcosis in a retrospective national cohort from 1997 to 2016.

Methods We reviewed clinical and laboratory records and assessed the presence of neutralizing auto-Abs against GM-CSF in 30 HIV negative adults with cryptococcosis (13 caused by C. gattii and 17 caused by C. neoformans).

Results We detected neutralizing auto-Abs against GM-CSF in the sera of 10 out of 13 (77%) patients infected with C. gattii and one out of 17 (6%) patients infected with C. neoformans.

Conclusions We report eleven Colombian patients diagnosed with cryptococcosis who had auto-Abs that neutralize GM-CSF. Among these patients, ten were infected with C. gattii and only one with C. neoformans.