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Warts, Hypogammaglobulinemia, Infections, and Myelokathexis (WHIM) syndrome is a rare primary immunodeficiency disease in humans caused by a gain of function in CXCR4, mostly due to inherited heterozygous mutations in CXCR4. One major clinical symptom of WHIM patients is their high susceptibility to human papillomavirus (HPV) induced disease, such as warts. Persistent high risk HPV infections cause 5% of all human cancers, including cervical, anogenital, head and neck and some skin cancers. WHIM mice bearing the same mutation identified in WHIM patients were created to study the underlying causes for the symptoms manifest in patients suffering from the WHIM syndrome. Using murine papillomavirus (MmuPV1) as an infection model in mice for HPV-induced disease, we demonstrate that WHIM mice are more susceptible to MmuPV1-induced warts (papillomas) compared to wild type mice. Namely, the incidence of papillomas is higher in WHIM mice compared to wild type mice when mice are exposed to low doses of MmuPV1. MmuPV1 infection facilitated both myeloid and lymphoid cell mobilization in the blood of wild type mice but not in WHIM mice. Higher incidence and larger size of papillomas in WHIM mice correlated with lower abundance of infiltrating T cells within the papillomas. Finally, we demonstrate that transplantation of bone marrow from wild type mice into WHIM mice normalized the incidence and size of papillomas, consistent with the WHIM mutation in hematopoietic cells contributing to higher susceptibility of WHIM mice to MmuPV1-induced disease. Our results provide evidence that MmuPV1 infection in WHIM mice is a powerful preclinical infectious model to investigate treatment options for alleviating papillomavirus infections in WHIM syndrome., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Wang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) have been used as antiviral agents for the treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) infection. We performed a systematic review to examine whether prior clinical studies that compared the effects of CQ and HCQ to a control for the treatment of non-SARS-CoV2 infection supported the use of these agents in the present SARS-CoV2 outbreak. PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and Web of Science (PROSPERO CRD42020183429) were searched from inception through 2 April 2020 without language restrictions. Of 1766 retrieved reports, 18 studies met our inclusion criteria, including 17 prospective controlled studies and one retrospective study. CQ or HCQ were compared to control for the treatment of infectious mononucleosis (EBV, n = 4), warts (human papillomavirus, n = 2), chronic HIV infection (n = 6), acute chikungunya infection (n = 1), acute dengue virus infection (n = 2), chronic HCV (n = 2), and as preventive measures for influenza infection (n = 1). Survival was not evaluated in any study. For HIV, the virus that was most investigated, while two early studies suggested HCQ reduced viral levels, four subsequent ones did not, and in two of these CQ or HCQ increased viral levels and reduced CD4 counts. Overall, three studies concluded CQ or HCQ were effective; four concluded further research was needed to assess the treatments' effectiveness; and 11 concluded that treatment was ineffective or potentially harmful. Prior controlled clinical trials with CQ and HCQ for non-SARS-CoV2 viral infections do not support these agents' use for the SARS-CoV2 outbreak., (Published 2021. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.)

Background: Warts, or verrucae, are mucosal human papilloma virus (HPV) infections that are very challenging to treat., Objective: To compare the safety and efficacy of intralesional injection of vitamin D3 versus intralesional injection of candida albicans antigen for plantar warts., Methods: Forty patients were included in the study and were divided into two groups (A&B) with 20 patients each. Group A received intralesional vitamin D3 while Group B received intralesional Candida antigen. Injection was done every 3 weeks until clearance of warts or a maximum of three treatments., Results: Nine patients showed complete clearance in group A (45%), while 6 patients (30%) showed partial response and no response in 5 patients (25%) of group (A). As for group (B), complete clearance of the treated warts was observed in 8 patients (40%), partial response in 6 patients (30%) while no response was observed in 6 patients (30%). No superiority of one treatment to the other was observed nor was any statistical significance in both groups’ responses noted., Conclusion: Treatment of multiple warts by intralesional injection of candida antigen or vitamin D3 is safe and effective, with good cure rates, has an excellent safety profile, with minimal recurrences and statistically equivalent. J Drugs Dermatol. 2021;20(5):546-549. doi:10.36849/JDD.5264.

Warts are regularly treated by dermatologists, and while many respond readily to first-line treatments, others may represent a therapeutic challenge. Large, deep, numerous, and extensive warts; treatment-resistant lesions with higher risk for side effects, such as hypopigmentation; or patients unable to tolerate or comply with our treatment regimen, may need alternative treatment options. In this work we review the characteristics of select modalities that should be considered for difficult-to-treat warts. We discuss efficacy and tolerability data as well as practical features that can guide us to select the best treatment for every scenario. Novel approaches, still in an investigational phase, are also discussed to illustrate potential future directions of wart treatment.

Background: Cutaneous warts are the commonest benign lesion produced by human papillomavirus. Lesions often regress spontaneously yet have a high rate of recurrence. They impair patients' quality of life and carry the potential risk of cancer. Nowadays, Candida antigen immunotherapy has become an encouraging therapeutic modality for warts. We tried to assess the role of the complement pathway and T helper 1 immune response in clinical response to Candida antigen immunotherapy via complement component 3c (C3c) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, respectively., Methods: A total of 44 patients with cutaneous warts were enrolled in the study. Patients were injected with Candida antigen at 2-week interval until complete clearance of the lesion or for a maximum of 5 sessions. Blood samples were collected before initiation and after completion of immunotherapy. C3 and C4 were measured using an automated turbidimetric method. Mannose-binding lectin (MBL), C3c, and TNF-α were measured using enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay., Results: A total of 56.4%, 17.9%, and 25.7% of the patients showed complete, partial, and no response to immunotherapy, respectively. Lesions on the dorsum of the foot and sole showed significant clearance (p value = 0.037). All patients had no deficient C3, C4, and MBL serum levels. C3c and TNF-α serum levels were significantly higher in non-responder group (p value < 0.001 and < 0.001, respectively). C3c and TNF-α serum levels were strongly correlated in all the studied patients (r = 0.8, p value < 0.001)., Conclusions: Candida antigen immunotherapy is an effective therapeutic modality for cutaneous warts. C3c and TNF-α serum levels were higher in patients who failed to respond to immunotherapy., Clinical Trial Registry Number: NCT04399577 , May 2020 "retrospectively registered".

Background: The efficacy of intralesional (IL) cryosurgery in the treatment of cutaneous warts has not been previously studied., Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of IL cryosurgery versus electrosurgery in multiple extragenital warts and investigate their effect on serum interleukin (IL)-12 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)., Materials and Methods: Thirty-one patients were included; 18 received IL cryosurgery, and 13 had electrosurgery. Treatment was performed for the largest or few (2-3) small warts (target) until cleared, leaving the remaining (distant) warts untreated. Clinical response of the target and distant warts and adverse effects were evaluated. Serum IL-12 and IFN-γ levels were assessed before and after treatment., Results: All patients had complete clearing of the treated wart in both groups. IL cryosurgery was well tolerated; infection, ulceration, and recurrence occurred only with electrosurgery. Complete/near-complete resolution of the distant untreated warts was seen in 33.3% versus none of patients in the IL cryosurgery and electrosurgery groups, respectively (p = .003). Furthermore, IL-12 and IFN-γ levels showed a tendency to increase after IL cryosurgery, and their increase correlated with distant wart response., Conclusion: Intralesional cryosurgery is effective not only in clearing treated warts but also resolving untreated warts and possibly enhances human papillomavirus-directed immune response.

Background: Cryotherapy and immunotherapeutic modalities elicit nonspecific immune response against the human papillomavirus. There is a paucity of literature on the effects of a sequential shift to immunotherapy in cryotherapy-resistant warts., Aim: To study the efficacy of intralesional purified protein derivative (PPD) immunotherapy in cryotherapy-resistant warts., Methods: Patients with cryotherapy-recalcitrant cutaneous warts were given intralesional injections of PPD into the index warts (oldest or largest) at 2-week intervals until complete clearance or up to a maximum of six injections. The response in the treated index and distant warts was defined as complete, partial, and no response (<25%). Complete responders were followed up for another 3 months to check for recurrence., Results: Twenty-eight patients completed the study protocol. Of the eight patients with single warts, four (50%), one (12.5%), and three (37.5%) patients had complete, partial, and no response, respectively. Of the 20 patients with multiple warts, nine (45%) had complete clearance of all warts, two (10%) each had complete and partial response in the index wart, respectively, with no response of the distant warts, and seven (35%) had no response in all warts. Complete response was seen in an average of 3.1 injections (range 1-5). There was no recurrence at the follow-up visit., Conclusion: Immunotherapy with PPD has potential in producing regional and remote wart regression even in cryotherapy-resistant warts. It is a safe and economical modality in children, multiple warts, and difficult-to-treat warts., (© 2020 The International Society of Dermatology.)

Background: Warts are benign epithelial proliferations of the skin and mucosa caused by infection with HPV. Low IL-17 levels may contribute in occurrence, maintenance, severity, and recurrence of different types of cutaneous wart that depend mainly on the cell-mediated immunity defect. In a majority of the patients, zinc deficiency was associated with persistent, progressive, or recurrent viral warts. A careful dose of oral zinc sulfate may be helpful in the management of such patients. Zn deficiency negatively affects the Th17 cells. IL 6 induced STAT3 activation during chronic inflammation and Th17 development suppressed by Zn via attenuating this activation critically controls Th17-cell development., Objectives: To evaluate the role of interleukin 17 and zinc in recalcitrant warts., Patents and Methods: All studied patients were subjected to history taking and dermatological examination. The evaluation of serum IL-17 level was done by ELISA in 25 recalcitrant wart patients and 25 wart patients. The measurement of serum zinc level was determined by colorimetric methods, using Au 480 Beckman coulter chemistry analyzer., Results: The results revealed a significant decrease in serum IL-17 and zinc levels in recalcitrant wart patients., Conclusion: Both IL-17 and zinc deficiency have a role in the pathogenesis of recalcitrant warts through the imbalance of immune system and deficiency of immune cells. There is no significant correlation between serum levels of IL-17 and zinc, suggesting that they have different mechanisms in affecting the immune system., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: The burden of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and HPV-associated diseases is consistently growing worldwide. Several combination therapies are being tested nowadays for the treatment of recalcitrant warts, with promising results., Aims: To evaluate the potential therapeutic role of combined bivalent HPV vaccine (Cervarix) and Candida antigen versus candida antigen alone in the treatment of multiple recalcitrant warts., Patients/methods: Forty patients with recalcitrant warts were enrolled into this study. They were divided into two groups (A and B), each including 20 patients. Patients in the group (A) received intralesional Candida antigen injection alone for five sessions at 2-week intervals. Patients in the group B received combined treatment of bivalent recombinant HPV vaccine and intralesional Candida antigen. Candida antigen was administered as in the group A, while Cervarix vaccine was given intramuscularly at 0, 1, and 6 months as scheduled. Follow-up was made monthly for 6 months to detect any possible recurrence., Results: Eight patients (40%) in the group (A) showed complete clearance of warts after intralesional Candida antigen injection alone, while 14 patients (70%) in the group (B) showed complete regression of warts after the combined therapy. No significant side effects were reported in both groups, and no recurrence was detected., Conclusion: Bivalent human papillomavirus vaccine combined with Candida antigen is a promising, effective, and safe modality for the treatment of multiple recalcitrant warts., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Langerhans cells (LCs) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) play an important role in the cutaneous immune response to viral infection. Verruca vulgaris (VV) is a chronic benign disease caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.To investigate the possible roles of LCs, pDCs and toll-like receptor (TLR)7/9 signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of VV, we detected the expression of CD1a, CD2AP, CD123, TLR7/9, IFN regulatory factor 7 (IRF7), and interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) in VV lesions.The expression of CD1a, CD2AP, CD123, TLR7/9, IRF7, and IRAK1 in 20 VV lesions was tested by immunohistochemistry. The density and number of stained cells were compared between VV lesions and the perilesional normal skin.The density and number of CD1a-, CD2AP-, CD123-, TLR9-, and IRAK1-positive cells in the papillary layer of VV lesions were significantly higher than those in the perilesional normal skin (P < .05). There were no significant differences in the density and positive rate of CD1a+ cells in the epidermis and of TLR7 and IRF7 cells in the dermis between VV lesions and the perilesional normal skin at the edge (P > .05).In VV, the number of LCs increases only in the dermis, indicating that LC's antigen-presenting function might not be inhibited. The increased number of pDCs in VV lesions suggests that HPV infection may recruit the pDCs to the virus-infected epithelium. We speculate that the TLR7/9 downstream signaling pathway is not fully activated in VV, leading to difficulty of HPV removal and the relapse of HPV-infected lesions.

Background: Solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) are at an increased risk of epithelial malignancies, mainly squamous cell carcinoma, and its precursor lesions such as actinic keratoses, warts, and porokeratosis, which may respond to retinoid therapy., Objective: To review the published evidence on the efficacy and safety of topical and systemic retinoids for the treatment and prophylaxis of malignant and premalignant conditions that mostly afflict SOTRs., Materials and Methods: Systematic review of the literature to summarize the level of evidence and grade of recommendation for retinoid therapy with emphasis in the SOTR population., Results: Acitretin has the highest strength of recommendation (Grade A) for prophylaxis of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) and treatment and prophylaxis of actinic keratoses in SOTR. In nonimmunosuppressed patients, acitretin and isotretinoin have a Grade B recommendation for treatment of recalcitrant warts. Topical retinoids have not shown efficacy in preventing NMSC in immunocompetent patients., Conclusion: Retinoids constitute a highly efficacious alternative for the management of the most common conditions that affect SOTRs. Acitretin has the most robust evidence for chemoprophylaxis in SOTRs. Knowledge about the specific indications and expected side effects of topical and systemic retinoids may help optimize their therapeutic potential.

Idiopathic T-CD4 lymphocytopenia (ICL) is a rare and heterogeneous syndrome characterized by opportunistic infections due to reduced CD4 T-lymphocytes (<300 cells/μl or <20% T-cells) in the absence of HIV infection and other primary causes of lymphopenia. Molecular testing of ICL has revealed defects in genes not specific to CD4 T-cells, with pleiotropic effects on other cell types. Here we report for the first time an absolute CD4 lymphocytopenia (<0.01 CD4 + T-cells/μl) due to an autosomal recessive CD4 gene mutation that completely abrogates CD4 protein expression on the surface membrane of T-cells, monocytes, and dendritic cells. A 45-year-old female born to consanguineous parents consulted because of exuberant, relapsing, and treatment-refractory warts on her hands and feet since the age of 10 years, in the absence of other recurrent infections or symptoms. Serological studies were negative for severe infections, including HIV 1/2, HTLV-1, and syphilis, but positive for CMV and EBV. Blood analysis showed the absence of CD4 + T-cells (<0.01%) with repeatedly increased counts of B-cells, naïve CD8 + T-lymphocytes, and particularly, CD4/CD8 double-negative (DN) TCRαβ + TCRγδ - T-cells (30% of T-cells; 400 cells/μl). Flow cytometric staining of CD4 using monoclonal antibodies directed against five different epitopes, located in two different domains of the protein, confirmed no cell surface membrane or intracytoplasmic expression of CD4 on T-cells, monocytes, and dendritic cells but normal soluble CD4 plasma levels. DN T-cells showed a phenotypic and functional profile similar to normal CD4 + T-cells as regards expression of maturation markers, T-helper and T-regulatory chemokine receptors, TCRvβ repertoire, and in vitro cytokine production against polyclonal and antigen-specific stimuli. Sequencing of the CD4 gene revealed a homozygous (splicing) mutation affecting the last bp on intron 7-8, leading to deletion of the juxtamembrane and intracellular domains of the protein and complete abrogation of CD4 expression on the cell membrane. These findings support previous studies in CD4 KO mice suggesting that surrogate DN helper and regulatory T-cells capable of supporting antigen-specific immune responses are produced in the absence of CD4 signaling and point out the need for better understanding the role of CD4 on thymic selection and the immune response., (Copyright © 2019 Fernandes, Perez-Andres, Blanco, Jara-Acevedo, Criado, Almeida, Botafogo, Coutinho, Paiva, van Dongen, Orfao and Faria.)

Autoimplantation is a simple technique and considered as a novel method of immunotherapy in treating warts. Intralesional immunotherapy by mumps, measles, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is also a promising treatment modality for multiple warts. To compare the efficacy and safety of both the methods in treating multiple warts, the study included 80 patients divided into two groups (Group A and Group B), each containing 40 patients. Informed consent was taken from each patient before enrollment into the study. Group A patients were treated by autoimplantation technique every 2 weeks for a maximum of four treatments. Similarly, Group B patients received MMR intralesional injection at a dose of 0.5 ml every 2 weeks for a maximum of four treatments. Complete clearance of the donor wart was observed in 60% patients in Group A, whereas complete clearance in the Group B injected by MMR was 72.5%. On the other hand, a significant difference (p < .05) was found in the therapeutic response among nonmanipulated warts in both groups, where complete clearance was observed in 47.5% of Group A patients versus 20% of Group B patients. Autoimplantation is a suitable approach for patients with multiple warts associated with distant lesions, while MMR injection is ideal for a single or fewer number of warts., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Fingolimod is used to reduce relapse rates in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). It is a sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) analogue having antagonistic effects on S1P receptors. Its immunosuppressive effect is due to reduced circulating lymphocyte numbers, and it may also be associated with impaired intrinsic cancer surveillance. Fingolimod side effects include increased rates and severity of viral infections particularly varicella zoster., Methods: We present five cases of chronic and treatment refractory warts associated with fingolimod therapy., Results: Each of the five cases presenting with chronic warts while receiving fingolimod therapy had prolonged periods of lymphopenia and improvements were seen following dose reduction or cessation of fingolimod., Conclusion: Cutaneous warts are associated with human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, suggesting an increased risk of other HPV-driven conditions such as cervical cancer following fingolimod administration. HPV viruses are responsible for approximately 90% of cervical cancers as well as a significant portion of anogenital cancers and have a high prevalence in sexually active adults. Given the reduced immune response to viral infections and potential impaired cancer surveillance in those receiving fingolimod, HPV vaccination and frequent assessment for the development of HPV-associated malignancies are recommended.

Intralesional (IL) vitamin D3 is an emerging treatment for cutaneous warts. However, its effectiveness and exact mechanism is not fully evaluated. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of IL purified protein derivative (PPD) and IL vitamin D3 in multiple warts and to investigate their systemic effect clinically and immunologically. Forty-five patients with multiple extragenital warts were treated with IL-PPD (22 patients) or IL vitamin D3 injection (23 patients) for a maximum of three sessions at 3 week intervals. Decrease in size and number of warts and adverse effects were evaluated. Serum interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels were measured before and 3 weeks after the last session. Higher clearance rates for all warts were observed with IL-PPD compared to IL vitamin D (59.1% vs. 21.7% complete clearance, p < .001). Significant increase was found in both serum IL-12 and IFN-γ after PPD treatment (p = .034 and p = .04, respectively), but only IFN-γ after vitamin D3 treatment (p = 0.02). Both IL vitamin D3 and PPD showed positive results in treatment of multiple warts. However, PPD showed higher clinical efficacy and more increase in both IL-12 and IFN-γ levels., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: In the warts, hypogammaglobulinemia, infections, and myelokathexis (WHIM) syndrome, variable phenotypic expression may delay diagnosis. Panleukopenia, malignancy, and chronic lung disease all affect morbidity and mortality risks. Routinely used treatments include immunoglobulins, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), and antibiotics; recent trials with a target C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) antagonist show promising results., Objective: We sought to characterize the largest cohort of patients with WHIM and evaluate their diagnostic and therapeutic management., Methods: Data were collected from an international cohort of 18 patients with CXCR4 mutations., Results: The clinical features manifested at 2.2 ± 2.6 years of age, whereas the disease diagnosis was delayed until 12.5 ± 10.4 years of age. Patients with WHIM commonly presented with a severe bacterial infection (78%). Pneumonia recurrence was observed in 61% of patients and was complicated with bronchiectasis in 27%. Skin warts were observed in 61% of patients at a mean age of 11 years, whereas human papilloma virus (HPV)-related malignancies manifested in 16% of patients. All the patients had severe neutropenia (195 ± 102 cells/mm 3 at onset), whereas lymphopenia and hypogammaglobulinemia were detected in 88% and 58% of patients, respectively. Approximately 50% of patients received antibiotic prophylaxis, whereas G-CSF and immunoglobulin treatments were used in 72% and 55% of patients, respectively., Conclusions: The WHIM syndrome onsets early in life and should be suspected in patients with chronic neutropenia. Patients with WHIM need careful monitoring and timely intervention for complications, mainly lung disease and HPV-related malignancies. We suggest that immunoglobulin therapy should be promptly considered to control the frequency of bacterial infections and prevent chronic lung damage., (Copyright © 2019 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Treatment of recalcitrant warts in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTR) can pose a therapeutic challenge for dermatologists. Successful treatment of recalcitrant warts can serve as secondary prevention for skin cancer in those with chronic immunosuppression. Given the heterogeneity of associated comorbid conditions in SOTR, clinical trials are difficult to conduct in this high-risk population, therefore, our clinical practice is mostly driven by observed responses from studies in immunocompetent patients or from case reports of immunocompromised patients. The combination of systemic retinoids and candida immunotherapy likely provide the most effective treatment for recalcitrant warts in SOTR. However, many SOTR have chronic renal insufficiency and are not candidates for acitretin therapy. We provide two cases of recalcitrant warts in SOTR successfully treated with isotretinoin in the setting of impaired renal function., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Refractory cutaneous warts are difficult to eliminate. In situ photo-immunotherapy (ISPI) is an innovative treatment concept combining local photothermal therapy (PTT) and topical immunotherapy using imiquimod. To compare the efficacy of ISPI vs topical imiquimod alone, a prospective randomized controlled trial was performed with patients suffering from refractory cutaneous warts. In both groups, approximately 50% of the skin surface containing warts was treated for 6 weeks. On the basis of topical imiquimod, ISPI includes an additional 808 nm laser irradiation. Treatment response, temperatures during irradiation and histopathologic examination were evaluated. The complete response rate in the ISPI-group (22/36, 61.1%) was significantly higher than in the imiquimod alone group (11/34, 32.4%). In the ISPI-group, the mean maximum temperature was 44.5 ± 5.1°C, and obvious lymphocytic infiltration was found in the perivasculature of the dermis. There was no recurrence or worsening in both groups during the 12-month follow-up. No obvious adverse reaction was observed. This study demonstrates that ISPI can be used as an effective and safe treatment modality for refractory cutaneous warts., (© 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

WHIM syndrome is a rare, autosomal dominant immunodeficiency which is named for the four key manifestations: Warts, Hypogammaglobulinemia, Infections, and Myelokathexis. It results from heterozygous gain-of-function mutations in the chemokine receptor CXCR4 which is widely expressed on leukocytes and has profound influences on immune system homeostasis and organogenesis. New treatments for the disease using drugs to reduce CXCR4 function are excellent examples of precision medicine. Since CXCR4 and its ligand CXCL12 play an important role in a variety of infectious, inflammatory, autoimmune, and malignant diseases, the study of WHIM syndrome provides important insights into both the physiologic and disease roles of these molecules., (Published 2018. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.)

Background: Normal immune functioning requires sufficient levels of trace elements including zinc and selenium, while elements such as nickel can be immunotoxic., Aim: To assess long-term abnormalities in zinc, selenium and nickel levels in patients with chronic recurrent warts., Methods: Toenail samples were taken from 28 patients with chronic recurrent warts and 30 apparently healthy matching controls were analysed. Toenail concentrations of zinc, selenium and nickel were measured using inductively-coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy., Results: Selenium levels were significantly higher in patients than in controls (P = 0.03). Levels of trace elements did not correlate with the number or duration of warts. Toenail nickel levels in all subjects were higher than globally reported values., Limitations: A small sample size and the absence of regional reference ranges for concentrations of trace elements in toenails., Conclusion: Zinc does not seem to be involved in the chronicity of warts, and it is unclear if selenium has a protective role against warts. Our finding of high concentrations of nickel in both patients and controls raises concerns about environmental exposure., Competing Interests: None

Human papillomavirus is associated with several anogenital and oropharyngeal lesions, including warts, premalignant lesions, and cancer. There are specific groups that were identified as high-risk groups for anal squamous cell carcinoma and anal human papillomavirus infection, namely HIV-positive patients, men who have sex with men, women with genital tract neoplasia, and solid organ transplant recipients. Condylomas have classically been considered to be a benign lesion, with an exception made for the Buschke-Loewenstein tumor, but several publications have shown that a high percentage of condylomas harbor high-grade lesions. Due to the similarities between anal and cervical carcinogenesis, anal cancer screening based on anal cytology and referral to high-resolution anoscopy, in case of abnormalities, have been advocated. Testing for anal human papillomavirus is not routinely done in anal cancer screening, because of the very high prevalence in high-risk populations. The large majority of anal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), and around 90% are attributed to human papillomavirus. Human papillomavirus positivity in anal SCC seems to have a prognostic value, with better survival in those patients with positive tumors. Prophylactic vaccination has been shown to be important for prevention of anal human papillomavirus-related lesions., (© 2019 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Interleukin (IL)-33 is released on cell injury and activates the immune reaction. IL-33 is involved in antiviral reaction in herpes virus infection, but the source that secretes IL-33 has not been identified. We speculate that keratinocytes injured in herpes virus infection secrete IL-33. In order to detect IL-33 in the lesional epidermis of patients with herpes virus infection, we immunostained several cutaneous herpes virus infection samples with an anti-IL-33 antibody, and compared them with cutaneous human papilloma virus (HPV) infection samples. We observed strong nuclear and mild cytoplasmic staining in epidermal keratinocytes of the lesional skin samples with herpes simplex virus and varicella zoster virus infections. However, staining was not observed in the epidermis of verruca vulgaris (VV) samples. We assumed that the strong immune reaction to herpes virus infection may depend on strong IL-33 expression in the epidermis, while very weak immune reaction in samples from patients with VV may be due to low or no expression of IL-33 in the lesional epidermis., (© 2018 Japanese Dermatological Association.)

Background: Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are the most potent producers of type I interferons (IFNs), and are involved in the pathogenesis of several cutaneous infectious (especially viral), inflammatory/autoimmune and neoplastic entities. Their role in the pathogenesis and regression of human papilloma virus (HPV)-induced skin lesions has not been well studied., Aim: To investigate pDC occurrence and activity in HPV-induced skin lesions, including inflamed and uninflamed warts as well as epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EDV)-associated lesions., Methods: In total 20 inflamed and 20 uninflamed HPV-induced skin lesions (including 7 EDV lesions) were retrieved from our database, and the tissue was immunohistochemically tested for pDC occurrence and activity using anti-BDCA-2 and anti-MxA antibodies, respectively., Results: pDCs were present in all 20 inflamed warts and absent from all 20 uninflamed cases. MxA expression was also diffuse and strong in 75% (15/20) inflamed warts, but not in any of the uninflamed warts., Conclusions: pDCs constitute a central component of the inflammatory host response in inflamed warts, possibly contributing to their regression through production of type I interferons., (© 2017 British Association of Dermatologists.)

WHIM syndrome is a rare congenital immunodeficiency disease, named after its main clinical manifestations: warts, hypogammaglobulinemia, infections, and myelokathexis, which refers to abnormal accumulation of mature neutrophils in the bone marrow. The disease is primarily caused by C-terminal truncation mutations of the chemokine receptor CXCR4, giving these CXCR4-WHIM mutants a gain of function in response to their ligand CXCL12. Considering the broad functions of CXCR4 in maintaining leukocyte homeostasis, patients are panleukopenic and display altered immune responses, likely as a consequence of impairment in the differentiation and trafficking of leukocytes. Treatment of WHIM patients currently consists of symptom relief, leading to unsatisfactory clinical responses. As an alternative and potentially more effective approach, we tested the potency and efficacy of CXCR4-specific nanobodies on inhibiting CXCR4-WHIM mutants. Nanobodies are therapeutic proteins based on the smallest functional fragments of heavy chain antibodies. They combine the advantages of small-molecule drugs and antibody-based therapeutics due to their relative small size, high stability, and high affinity. We compared the potential of monovalent and bivalent CXCR4-specific nanobodies to inhibit CXCL12-induced CXCR4-WHIM-mediated signaling with the small-molecule clinical candidate AMD3100. The CXCR4-targeting nanobodies displace CXCL12 binding and bind CXCR4-wild type and CXCR4-WHIM (R334X/S338X) mutants and with (sub-) nanomolar affinities. The nanobodies' epitope was mapped to extracellular loop 2 of CXCR4, overlapping with the binding site of CXCL12. Monovalent, and in particular bivalent, nanobodies were more potent than AMD3100 in reducing CXCL12-mediated G protein activation. In addition, CXCR4-WHIM-dependent calcium flux and wound healing of human papillomavirus-immortalized cell lines in response to CXCL12 was effectively inhibited by the nanobodies. Based on these in vitro results, we conclude that CXCR4 nanobodies hold significant potential as alternative therapeutics for CXCR4-associated diseases such as WHIM syndrome., (Copyright © 2017 by The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.)

Background: Human papilloma virus (HPV) infects keratinocytes of the skin and mucous membranes, and is associated with the induction of cutaneous warts and malignancy. Warts can induce significant morbidity and disability but most therapies, including cryotherapy, laser, and radiofrequency devices show low efficacy and induce discomfort through tissue destruction. Microwaves are readily capable of passing through highly keratinised skin to deliver energy and induce heating of the tissue in a highly controllable, uniform manner., Objectives: To determine the effects of microwave on cutaneous HPV infection., Materials & Methods: We undertook a pilot study of microwave therapy to the skin in 32 consecutive individuals with 52 recalcitrant long-lived viral cutaneous warts. Additionally, we undertook a molecular characterisation of the effects of microwaves on the skin., Results: Tissue inflammation was minimal, but 75.9% of lesions cleared which compares favourably with previous studies showing a clearance rate of 23-33% for cryotherapy or salicylic acid. We show that microwaves specifically induce dendritic cell cross-presentation of HPV antigen to CD8+ T cells and suggest that IL-6 may be important for DC IRF1 and IRF4 modulation to enhance this process., Conclusion: Keratinocyte-skin dendritic cell cross-talk is integral to host defence against HPV infections, and this pilot study supports the concept of microwave induction of anti-HPV immunity which offers a promising approach for treatment of HPV-induced viral warts and potentially HPV-related cancers.

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief. The authors have notified the Editor of a serious error in their initial assumptions and, therefore, the overall conclusions presented in this article. The causative mutation is essential for the analysis and, therefore, it is difficult to correct part of the article. Had the Editor been aware of the issues flagged by the authors, the article would not have been accepted for publication. The authors have requested that the article is retracted because their data and conclusions are incorrect, and the Editor has agreed to retract the article., (Copyright © 2017 Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Phagocytic neutrophil granulocytes are among the first immune cells active at sites of infection, forming an important first-line defense against invading microorganisms. Congenital immune defects concerning these phagocytes may be due to reduced neutrophil numbers or function. Management of affected patients depends on the type and severity of disease. Here, we provide an overview of causes and treatment of diseases associated with congenital neutropenia, as well as defects of the phagocytic respiratory burst., (© 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Immunotherapy has been used for recalcitrant, large, and multiple warts, although it is difficult to predict which patient will respond. An open interventional cohort trial was conducted in 50 adult patients with recalcitrant multiple, nongenital warts in whom intralesional immunotherapy was given using the Mycobacterium welchii vaccine. The authors determined whether the wart resolution was dependent on the immune response. The response of various types of warts was also compared with the initial immune response. Complete cure was used as a treatment endpoint, which was defined as a lack of recurrence at follow-up of at least 6 months. The majority of patients had palmoplantar warts (54%). A total of 26 patients achieved a clinical cure. The high immune group achieved a higher complete cure rate (60%) as compared with the low immune group (20%) ( P =.008; absolute risk reduction=.44; number needed to treat=3) with a fewer number of sessions ( P =.004). This difference was most marked in palmoplantar warts ( P =.04). Immunotherapy using M welchii is a useful modality in recalcitrant warts in patients who have a test site induration of ≥10 mm, but this does not affect the recurrence rates.

CXCR4 plays a central role in B cell immune response, notably by promoting plasma cell (PC) migration and maintenance in the bone marrow (BM). Gain-of-function mutations in CXCR4 affecting receptor desensitization have been reported in the rare immunodeficiency called WHIM syndrome (WS). Despite lymphopenia, patients mount an immune response but fail to maintain it over time. Using a knockin mouse model phenocopying WS, we showed that, counter-intuitively, a gain of Cxcr4 function inhibited the maintenance of antibody titers after immunization. Although the Cxcr4 mutation intrinsically and locally promoted germinal center response and PC differentiation, antigen-specific PCs were barely detected in the BM, a defect mirrored by early accumulation of immature plasmablasts potentially occupying the survival niches for long-lived PCs. Therefore, fine-tuning of Cxcr4 desensitization is critically required for efficient PC differentiation and maintenance, and absence of such a regulatory process may account for the defective humoral immunity observed in WS patients., (Copyright © 2016 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Chemokines and chemokine receptors regulate multiple processes such morphogenesis, angiogenesis and immune responses. Among the chemokine receptors, CXCR4 stands out for its pleiotropic roles as well as for its involvement in several pathological conditions, including immune diseases, viral infections and cancer. For these reasons, CXCR4 represents a crucial target in drug development. In this review, we discuss of CXCR4 receptor properties and signaling in health and diseases, focusing on the WHIM syndrome, an inherited immunodeficiency caused by mutations of the CXCR4 gene., (Copyright © 2016 European Federation of Immunological Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A proportion of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients develop persistent, stigmatizing human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cutaneous and genital warts and anogenital (pre)cancer. This is the first study to investigate immunogenetic variations that might account for HPV susceptibility and the largest to date to categorize the HPV types associated with cutaneous warts in HIV-positive patients. The HLA class I and II allele distribution was analyzed in 49 antiretroviral (ART)-treated HIV-positive patients with persistent warts, 42 noninfected controls, and 46 HIV-positive controls. The allele HLA-B*44 was more frequently identified in HIV-positive patients with warts (P = .004); a susceptible haplotype (HLA-B*44, HLA-C*05; P = .001) and protective genes (HLA-DQB1*06; P = .03) may also contribute. Cutaneous wart biopsy specimens from HIV-positive patients harbored common wart types HPV27/57, the unusual wart type HPV7, and an excess of Betapapillomavirus types (P = .002), compared with wart specimens from noninfected controls. These findings suggest that HLA testing might assist in stratifying those patients in whom vaccination should be recommended., (© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Management of recurrent and or recalcitrant warts can be a therapeutic challenge and in such cases invoking body's own immunity may help to overcome the present episode and also prevent recurrences. Bacilli Calmette Geurin (BCG) immunotherapy has long been considered to be an effective and safe modality in such cases. We present a series of seven cases treated with BCG immunotherapy wherein a single dose of BCG caused regression of wart in 85.7% patients and complete resolution was evident in 28.6% patients. However, the development of adverse effects precluded any further dosages in four of seven (57.1%) patients. This raises serious concern on the safety of this therapeutic modality, especially in a population endemic to tuberculosis., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Warts are common epidermal growths caused by human papillomavirus that often cause significant discomfort and embarrassment. Current treatment options include topical therapies, cryotherapy, laser vaporization, and surgical excision. Many of these options are destructive and may result in scarring, while less aggressive approaches can lead to lesion recurrence. Additionally, these local modalities are not practical for patients with a large number of warts. Systemic approaches such as immunotherapy have demonstrated success in treating multiple lesions by combining a targeted approach with upregulation of the host immune system. An extensive literature review was performed to evaluate the various vaccine antigens that have been used intralesionally to treat cutaneous and anogenital warts. The specific intralesional immunotherapies that have been studied include: Candida albicans; measles, mumps, and rubella; Trichophyton; and tuberculin antigens such as purified protein derivative, Mycobacterium w vaccine, and Bacillus Calmette-Guerin. Intralesional vaccine injection represents a safe, effective, and tolerable treatment for warts, including recalcitrant and anogenital warts. This approach has been somewhat overlooked in the past despite substantial evidence of high response rates with a low side effect profile. Large comparative trials are necessary to determine the most effective immunotherapy treatment option as well as the most appropriate dosing parameters., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP) immunotherapy has been shown to be efficacious for the treatment of warts, especially periungual warts for which destructive techniques are limited. However, factors affecting the duration of treatment of periungual warts have not been studied. A total of 61 patients with periungual warts who were completely cured with DPCP immunotherapy were included in this study. Age, sex, disease duration, location (fingernail, toenail, or both), number of warts, diameter of the largest wart, application number for sensitization and two types of sensitization reactions, erythema and blister index (EBI), and pruritus index were evaluated. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to find correlations of these variables with the treatment duration. Of the nine variables, application number for sensitization (regression coefficient = 3.251 and 2.428, respectively) and EBI (regression coefficient = -9.950 and -9.694, respectively) were independent factors significantly affecting both the total duration of treatment and the duration of treatment after sensitization (p < 0.05, respectively). The sample size was limited. A shorter sensitization period and more severe EBI of the sensitization reaction contribute to a shorter time required for a complete cure in the treatment of periungual warts with DPCP immunotherapy., (© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia (PIL) is a rare protein-losing enteropathy with lymphatic leakage into the small intestine. Dilated lymphatics in the small intestinal wall and mesentery are observed in this disease. Laboratory tests of PIL patients revealed hypoalbuminemia, lymphocytopenia, hypogammaglobulinemia and increased stool α-1 antitrypsin clearance. Cell-mediated immunodeficiency is also present in PIL patients because of loss of lymphocytes. As a result, the patients are vulnerable to chronic viral infection and lymphoma. However, cases of PIL with chronic viral infection, such as human papilloma virus-induced warts, are rarely reported. We report a rare case of PIL with generalized warts in a 36-year-old male patient. PIL was diagnosed by capsule endoscopy and colonoscopic biopsy with histological tissue confirmation. Generalized warts were observed on the head, chest, abdomen, back, anus, and upper and lower extremities, including the hands and feet of the patient.