Human Papillomavirus Types and Expression of L1 Capsid Protein in Cutaneous Warts

Lee, Yong Woo; Kim, Soo Hyun; Yun, Sook Jung; Won, Young Ho; Lee, Jee Bum

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Warts are caused by human papilloma viruses (HPVs) infection. Clinically, warts sometimes may be persistent and are recalcitrant to treatments for months or even years.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between clinical findings, HPV infection and L1 capsid protein.
METHODS
Fifty-six samples from patients with cutaneous warts were used in this study. HPV DNA chip analysis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed for detecting the HPV types. Immunohistochemical stains were done for detecting the expressions of HPV L1 capsid protein.
RESULTS
We found different types of HPV infection in warts, as follows; 17 cases of HPV2, 15 cases of HPV27, 8 cases of HPV1, 7 cases of HPV16, 6 cases of HPV4, 5 cases of HPV5, 5 cases of HPV6, 4 cases of HPV11, 3 cases of HPV3 and 3 cases of HPV10. Infection with only one HPV type was identified in 50.0% (28/56) of the investigated samples, whereas concomitant infection with two and three viral types was present in 19.6% (11/56) and 10.7% (6/56) of the cases, respectively. The incidence of concomitant HPV infections found in common warts was significantly more frequent than other clinical types of cutaneous warts. L1 capsid protein was expressed in all of the cutaneous warts.
CONCLUSION
Concomitant HPV infections are common in cutaneous warts especially, common warts though the L1 capsid protein were present in all four clinical types. Further studies should be performed to clarify the relationship of recalcitrant to treatment and concomitant HPV infections in cutaneous warts.