Assessment of Serum Interleukin-36γ Level in Patients with Warts

Abstract

Background: The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the causative agent of harmless verrucous overgrowths called warts. Their eradication depends on effective T helper 1/cytotoxic T cells cellular immunity. Interleukin (IL)-36 agonist cytokines are secreted mainly by epithelial cells, such as keratinocytes, in response to infections or inflammatory condition. These cytokines enhance innate immune response and promote the activation of Th1 and Th17 cells. Aim: The study aimed to evaluate IL-36γ serum level in persons with warts in comparison with healthy controls in order to investigate the potential function of Interleukin-36 in the immune response against this common skin viral infection. Subjects and Methods: In this case-control study, participants were forty people with warts who were recruited from the Dermatology Outpatient Clinics at Suez Canal University Hospitals in Ismailia city, Egypt, as well as forty people who served as healthy control group. Results: Serum Interleukin-36γ level was significantly greater in patients with warts than in healthy controls (p < 0.001). However, there was no significant relation amongst IL-36γ level & clinical data gathered from individuals affected by warts (age, gender, site, number, clinical type, and recurrence). Conclusion: Serum level of IL-36γ was significantly increased in patients with warts compared to controls. This high serum level of Interleukin-36γ might highlight the possible role of IL-36γ in promoting the cell-mediated immune response against human papillomavirus.