Possible role of interleukin‐17 and macrophage migration inhibitory factor in cutaneous warts.

Summary: Background/Objectives: Cutaneous warts (CW), or verrucae, are benign proliferation of skin that result from infection with human papilloma viruses. Cellular immune reactivity plays a significant role in wart regression. The aim of this study was to elucidate the cellular immune status of patients with CW through measurements of their serum levels of interleukin‐17 (IL‐17) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF,) and, identify the possible role of IL‐17 and MIF in CW. We assessed serum IL‐17 and MIF levels in patients with different forms of CW and compare the results with controls. Patient and methods: Serum levels of IL‐17 and MIF were measured using commercially available ELISA assay kits in 60 patients with CW and 20 healthy controls. Results: Serum levels of IL‐17 and MIF were significantly lower in patients with CW when compared with the controls (P‐value <.01, <.05, respectively). There was nonsignificant correlation between IL‐17 and MIF. Conclusion: Low IL‐17 and MIF levels may have a contributory role in occurrence, maintenance, severity, and recurrence of different types of CW which depend mainly on the defect of cell‐mediated immunity. This may shed new light on nontraditional strategies for the future medical treatments of CW through regulation of IL‐17 and MIF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]