Abstract
Background: In many cases, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is self-limiting,
as innate and adaptive cell-mediated
immunity is needed for infection elimination;
however, the inability of the immune system in some patients to clear the infection
is a matter of debate. The interleukin-17
(IL-17)
family cytokines play an important
protective role in host immune response to infections, through maintaining immunity
against specific pathogens, induction of antimicrobial proteins, and recruitment
of neutrophils to sites of invasion. Galectin-3
(Gal-3)
may be considered as a marker
of viral infection as many studies reported its increased serum level in viral infections.
Aims: To evaluate levels of serum Gal-3
and IL-17
in patients with verrucas and to
explore the potential role of these markers in the pathogenesis of the disease.
Methods: Fifty patients suffering from HPV Infection, and fifty healthy controls were
included in this study. Serum levels of Gal-3
and IL-17
were assessed using enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay.
Results: The patients’ serum Gal-3
was significantly higher, while IL-17 was significantly
lower than that of the healthy controls (p-value
< 0.001). Moreover, a statistically
significant positive correlation was found between Gal-3
serum level and disease
duration and number of warts. Significant negative correlation exists between IL-17
and Gal-3
levels.
Conclusion: Our results indicate a potential role of both IL-17
and Gal-3
in the pathogenesis
of warts and open a new opportunity in targeting these markers in the future
in treating warts.