Human papillomavirus type 5 is commonly present in immunosuppressed and immunocompetent individuals.
DNA of a wide spectrum of epidermodysplasia verruciformis-associated human papillomavirus (HPV) types (EV-HPV) has been detected in skin lesions and plucked hairs from both immunosuppressed and a considerable proportion of non-immunosuppressed persons. Recently, the skin of psoriatic patients was claimed to be an important reservoir for a particular EV-HPV type, HPV 5, which is considered as a high-risk HPV type for skin carcinomas. In the present study, we analysed plucked hairs from immunosuppressed renal transplant patients and immunocompetent individuals, utilizing an HPV 5-specific nested polymerase chain reaction. HPV 5 was detected in hairs derived from 14 of 31 (45%) immunosuppressed patients and 21 of 135 (16%) immunocompetent individuals. Both the immunosuppressed and the immunocompetent groups consisted of individuals with and without non-melanoma skin cancer. HPV 5 DNA was detected in similar proportions of hair samples plucked from individuals with and without skin cancer in either group. Our results indicate that HPV 5 is commonly present in the population. The role of HPV 5 in the pathogenesis of skin carcinomas and psoriasis remains to be established.
Boxman
I L
IL
Department of Virology, Academic Medical Centre, Meibergdreef 15, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. i.lboxman@amc.uva.nl
Mulder
L H
LH
Russell
A
A
Bouwes Bavinck
J N
JN
Green
A
A
Ter Schegget
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*