Iron overload exacerbates experimental meningoencephalitis by Cryptococcus neoformans

This study was aimed at investigating the effects of iron overload on the onset and outcome of cerebral cryptococcosis. To this purpose, iron dextran-administered mice were intracerebrally challenged with virulent melanogenic and avirulent non-melanogenic strains of Cryptococcus neoformans. The results shown here provide the first evidence that iron overload exacerbates the outcome of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis, irrespective of the fungal strain employed; pathogen colonization of the brain is facilitated, local cytokine response is delayed and/or prevented.