Evaluation of the levels of specific IgE against Cryptococcus diffluens and Cryptococcus liquefaciens in patients with atopic dermatitis.

Cryptococcus diffluens and Cryptococcus liquefaciens, 2 basidiomycetous yeasts, frequently colonize the skin of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). In this study, we investigated the presence of specific IgE antibodies against C. diffluens and C. liquefaciens in the sera of AD patients by using an enzyme immunoassay . Of the 122 AD serum samples tested, 43 (35.2%) and 50 (41.0%) were positive for specific IgE antibodies against C. diffluens and C. liquefaciens, respectively. The levels of specific IgE against the C. diffluens antigen and that against the C. liquefaciens antigen were strongly correlated (r=0.96). In contrast, no remarkable correlation was observed between the levels of specific IgE against the 2 Cryptococcus species and that of specific IgE against Malassezia restricta. Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) inhibition tests revealed that C. diffluens and C. liquefaciens shared common antigens. This finding was consistent with the IgE immunoblotting data which demonstrated that several IgE-binding proteins with molecular masses of 77, 54, and 30 kDa were recognized in both C. diffluens and C. liquefaciens antigens . These results suggest that fungal components from C. diffluens and C. liquefaciens may act as allergens and play a role in the pathogenesis of AD.