Persistent NK cell deficiency associated with pulmonary cryptococcosis

Abstract

Abstract We describe pulmonary cryptococcosis in a 28-year-old previously healthy man. Exhaustive immunological investigations revealed a primary NK cell deficiency associated with a secondary impaired anti-Cryptococcus CD8 lymphocyte response and the expansion of a CD8Vβ14 + T cell clone. This case illustrates the potential role of NK cells in immunity against Cryptococcus.

Keywords

• NK cells
• NK cell deficiency
• Cryptococcus
• CD8 clonotype
• Vβ14 repertoire