Mycobacterial and Opportunistic Infections in HIV-Negative Thai and Taiwanese Patients Associated With Autoantibodies to Interferon-gamma

The acquisition of opportunistic infections has been causally linked to innate and acquired immunodeficiencies. We have recently identified a population of Asian women with autoantibodies to interferon gamma (IFNg), all of whom were diagnosed by virtue of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections. Similar patient populations have been reported from Thailand and Taiwan, and we have found similar autoantibodies in anonymous serum samples from there. In addition, many of the patients who have disseminated or lymphatic nontuberculous infections have had other opportunistic infections (OI), such as salmonella, penicilliosis, and histoplasmosis. Recently, patients who are clinically similar to our Thai population were described in Taiwan. Two of these cases have been diagnosed with IFNg autoantibodies (unpublished data). The described patients have normal lymphocyte counts and are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) negative. Therefore, the identification of autoantibodies to a critical cytokine, the occurrence of opportunistic infections, and the lack of other common explanations suggest that this is an important population to study. We propose to enroll patients in a natural history study of non-HIV opportunistic infections to explore the presence of autoantibodies to cytokines, and to examine potential immunogenetic factors influencing the development of this disease. Plasma, cells, and DNA samples will be obtained and stored for use in this study. This study will accrue up to 265 patients over 5 years as per the protocol with follow up for 20 years on each patient, sample size justification and the groups described in the protocol.

• INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Patients must meet all of the following criteria at the time of evaluation to be eligible for enrollment into the study cohorts:

Group 1 (NTM alone):

• Past or current infection with NTM proven by culture or specific DNA detection in the presence of a compatible clinical picture as judged by the responsible clinician and PI on site.
• NTM is not felt to be iatrogenic (such as indwelling catheter associated or post-operative wound infection)
• HIV negative within 3 months either prior to the diagnosis of OI, or prior to enrollment in this study, if HIV status was unknown at the time of OI
• No evidence of active malignancy
• No systemic corticosteroids at time of diagnosis of OI (defined as greater than 4 weeks at a dose greater than 10 mg per day of prednisone within 3 months prior to diagnosis of the NTM)
• No preexisting immune deficiency

Group 2 (non-NTM OI with or without NTM):

• Patients must have or have had proven infection with one or more of the following organisms: disseminated Salmonella, Listeria, Penicillium, Burkholderia pseudomallei, Cryptococcus, Histoplasma, Herpes zoster involving 2 or more non-contiguous dermatomes, or extradermal involvement or other opportunistic infections not listed above, but relevant, as determined by the PI.
• Patient may have infection with NTM in addition to one or more of the above infection(s).
• HIV-negative within 3 months either prior to the diagnosis of OI, or prior to enrollment in this study, if HIV status was unknown at the time of OI diagnosis
• No evidence of active malignancy
• No systemic corticosteroids at time of diagnosis of OI (defined as greater than 4 weeks at a dose greater than 10 mg per day of prednisone within 3 months prior to diagnosis of the NTM)
• No preexisting immune deficiency

Group 3 (diseased control with pulmonary MTB):

• Active pulmonary MTB, i.e. patients who have sputum that is either culture positive for MTB or AFB positive and responding to therapy for MTB.
• Diagnosed within the past 6 months.
• No concurrent infections due to NTM or OI listed under above inclusion criteria for study subjects
• No clinical evidence of HIV

Group 4 (diseased control with disseminated MTB):

Disseminated MTB includes infections involving greater than or equal to 2 noncontiguous sites, one of which may include pulmonary disease or greater than or equal to 2 separate groups of lymph nodes.

• Active disseminated MTB or cured disseminated MTB
• No concurrent infections due to NTM or OI listed under above inclusion criteria for study subjects
• HIV negative within 3 months either prior to the diagnosis of MTB, or prior to enrollment in this study, if HIV status was unknown at the time of MTB diagnosis
• No evidence of active malignancy
• No systemic corticosteroids at time of diagnosis of OI (defined as > 4 weeks at a dose > 10 mg per day of prednisone within 3 months prior to diagnosis of the NTM)
• No preexisting immune deficiency.

Group 5 (Blood Specimen Donor):

Eligibility criteria not applicable. Blood will be collected from volunteers, and no medical evaluation will be performed.

To be a blood donor the person cannot be excluded per these exclusionary criteria: Patient cannot be less that 18 or more than 85, Patient must not weigh less than 45 KG (99 Lbs), Patient cannot be receiving chemotherapy or have cancer, Patient cannot be receiving any immunosuppressant medications, Patient cannot have a history of heart, lung, kidney disease or bleeding disorder.

Samples will be collected from anyone of the collaborating sites. Immediately after drawing a specimen it will be assigned a number that is unlinked to the person donating. Thus, they will be anonymous and not traceable back to the original volunteer. Subjects will be consented and compensated for their contribution.

Exclusion criteria

Patients will be excluded for the following reasons:

• HIV-positive serostatus for groups 1, 2 and 4 (groups 3 and 5 we will not be routinely performing HIV testing)
• Active malignancy
• Medical conditions requiring immune modulating therapy (i.e. corticosteroids, biological agents, anti-metabolites) and /or chemotherapy
• Any other medical conditions unsuitable for this study as determined by the principal investigator
• Age less than 18 years
• Subjects cannot be receiving any other investigational study agents when enrolling on this study.