Serum level of interleukin‐22 in patients with cutaneous warts: A case‐control study

• Published in: Journal of cosmetic dermatology Vol. 20; no. 6; pp. 1782 - 1787
• Main Authors: Marie, Radwa El‐Sayed Mahmoud, Abuzeid, Aya Qamar Eldawla Mahmoud, Attia, Fadia M., Anani, Maha Mohamed, Gomaa, Amal H. A., Atef, Lina M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.06.2021
• Subjects: Case-Control Studies; cutaneous; Cytokines; Humans; infection; Interleukin-22; Interleukins - blood; wart; Warts; cutaneous; infection; wart
• ISSN: 1473-2130; 1473-2165
• DOI: 10.1111/jocd.13779

Background Warts are viral cutaneous infections caused by human papilloma virus (HPV), presented by verrucous growth over the skin surface. The immune response is considered to play a crucial role in HPV clearance. It depends on intact cellular immunity including natural killer (NK) cell and cytotoxic T cells. It has been clarified that T‐helper (Th) 1 cytokines (interleukin (IL)‐2, interferon‐γ, and tumor necrosis factor‐a) and IL‐17 are involved in HPV clearance. IL‐22 is one of IL‐10 family of cytokines produced by NK cells, Th1, Th17, and Th22 cells. In the skin, IL‐22 reduces keratinocyte cornification and enhances keratinocyte production of antimicrobial peptides. IL‐22 overexpression has been demonstrated in various viral infections and skin inflammatory disorders. Aim The aim of this study was to assess serum levels of IL‐22 in patients with warts and its association with their different clinical characteristics. Methods The study included 20 patients with warts and 20 control subjects. Serum concentration of IL‐22 was measured by enzyme‐linked immune sorbent assay. Results Serum levels of IL‐22 were significantly higher in patients with warts than in control subjects (P < .001). The levels were significantly higher in patients with recurrent warts after prior treatment than in patients with first‐time warts (P = .007). Moreover, a significant positive correlation was detected between serum levels of IL‐22 and the number of warts (P = .017). Conclusion Serum level of IL‐22 was elevated in patients with warts. Thus, IL‐22 may have a crucial role in the antiviral immune response against this infection.