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Infection and Immunity, July 2005, p. 3923-3928, Vol. 73, No. 7
0019-9567/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/IAI.73.7.3923-3928.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Cellular Immune Suppressor Activity Resides in Lymphocyte Cell Clusters Adjacent to Granulomata in Human Coccidioidomycosis

Lijin Li,1 Sharon M. Dial,2 Monika Schmelz,3,5 Margaret A. Rennels,3,5 and Neil M. Ampel1,4,5*

Departments of Microbiology and Immunology,1 Veterinary Science and Microbiology,2 Pathology,3 Medicine, University of Arizona,4 Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Tucson, Arizona5

Received 17 December 2004/ Returned for modification 27 January 2005/ Accepted 10 March 2005

The in situ immunologic response in human coccidioidomycosis remains undefined. To explore this further, pulmonary necrotizing coccidioidal granulomata were examined using immunohistochemical staining for lymphocyte subsets and for the cytokines interleukin-10 (IL-10) and gamma interferon (IFN-{gamma}). Discrete perigranulomatous lymphocytic clusters were seen in eight of nine tissues examined. In these tissues, T lymphocytes (CD3+) significantly outnumbered B lymphocytes (CD20+) in the mantle area of the granulomata (P = 0.028), whereas the clusters were composed of roughly equal numbers of T and B lymphocytes. While the number of cells in the mantle expressing IL-10 was similar to those in the perigranulomatous clusters, there were significantly more cells expressing IFN-{gamma} in the mantle than in the clusters (P = 0.037). Confocal microscopy revealed that CD4+ T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes are associated with IL-10 production. CD4+CD25+ T lymphocytes were identified in the perigranulomatous clusters but were not associated with IL-10 production. This is the first report noting perigranulomatous lymphocyte clusters and IL-10 in association with human coccidioidal granulomata and suggests that down-regulation of the cellular immune response is occurring within coccidioidal granulomata.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Medical Service (1-111), SAVAHCS, 3601 S. Sixth Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85723. Phone: (520) 792-1450, ext. 6186. Fax: (520) 629-1861. E-mail: nampel{at}email.arizona.edu.

Editor: T. R. Kozel

Infection and Immunity, July 2005, p. 3923-3928, Vol. 73, No. 7
0019-9567/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/IAI.73.7.3923-3928.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Shubitz, L. F., Dial, S. M., Perrill, R., Casement, R., Galgiani, J. N. (2008). Vaccine-Induced Cellular Immune Responses Differ from Innate Responses in Susceptible and Resistant Strains of Mice Infected with Coccidioides posadasii. Infect. Immun. 76: 5553-5564 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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