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Anti-interferon-γ autoantibody and opportunistic infections: case series and review of the literature

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Abstract

Immune defects in interleukin-12-dependent interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) pathways are associated with disseminated infections caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and Salmonella. Recently, there have been an increasing number of reports of acquired autoantibodies to IFN-γ in adults, especially in Asian patients. We describe here three human immunodeficiency virus-negative Thai adults who had persistent or recurrent disseminated infections caused by NTM, Salmonella, and other opportunistic pathogens, possibly due to anti-IFN-γ autoantibodies. The antibodies were shown to exhibit very high inhibitory activity to IFN-γ. Two patients also developed Sweet’s syndrome during the course of infections. In addition, we also review all previous reports of patients with anti-IFN-γ antibodies who were susceptible to NTM and Salmonella infections.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Doctor Steven Holland for his contribution to testing for the anti-IFN-γ antibodies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    T. Kampitak

  2. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University Hospital, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    G. Suwanpimolkul & C. Suankratay

  3. Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA

    S. Browne

Authors
  1. T. Kampitak
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  2. G. Suwanpimolkul
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  3. S. Browne
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  4. C. Suankratay
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Suankratay.

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Kampitak, T., Suwanpimolkul, G., Browne, S. et al. Anti-interferon-γ autoantibody and opportunistic infections: case series and review of the literature. Infection 39, 65–71 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-010-0067-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-010-0067-3

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