Why your white blood cells fight fungus in your lungs
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Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Your body uses special white blood cells called T-cells to fight a fungus called Pneumocystis. If you have too few of the main ones (CD4 cells), you get sick. Other T-cells use IL-17 to kill the fungus, but IFN-γ doesn't kill it—it just stops your lungs from getting too inflamed.
Surprising Findings
IFN-γ deficiency doesn’t impair fungal clearance—it makes lung inflammation worse.
For decades, IFN-γ was considered the key antifungal cytokine. This study shows it’s not needed to kill the fungus at all—only to prevent immune overkill.
Practical Takeaways
If you’re HIV-positive or on immunosuppressants, ask your doctor about your CD4 count and whether you need PCP prophylaxis if it’s below 200.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Your body uses special white blood cells called T-cells to fight a fungus called Pneumocystis. If you have too few of the main ones (CD4 cells), you get sick. Other T-cells use IL-17 to kill the fungus, but IFN-γ doesn't kill it—it just stops your lungs from getting too inflamed.
Surprising Findings
IFN-γ deficiency doesn’t impair fungal clearance—it makes lung inflammation worse.
For decades, IFN-γ was considered the key antifungal cytokine. This study shows it’s not needed to kill the fungus at all—only to prevent immune overkill.
Practical Takeaways
If you’re HIV-positive or on immunosuppressants, ask your doctor about your CD4 count and whether you need PCP prophylaxis if it’s below 200.