title: Seroreactivity to cutaneous human papillomaviruses among patients with nonmelanoma skin cancer or benign skin lesions.
abstract: Cutaneous human papillomaviruses (HPV) are common in nonmelanoma skin cancers, benign skin lesions, and healthy skin. Increased seroprevalences for cutaneous HPV among nonmelanoma skin cancer patients have been described. To determine whether antibodies to cutaneous HPV are related to presence of the virus and/or to skin disease, we collected serum and biopsies from both lesions and healthy skin from 434 nonimmunosuppressed patients (72 squamous cell carcinomas, 160 basal cell carcinomas, 81 actinic keratoses, and 121 benign lesions). Biopsies were analyzed for HPV DNA by PCR, cloning, and sequencing. Serum antibodies to the major capsid protein L1 of HPV 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 20, 24, 32, 36, 38, and 57 as well as to the oncoproteins E6 and E7 of HPV 8 and 38 were detected using a multiplexed fluorescent bead-based assay. Type-specific seroprevalence among patients with the same type of HPV DNA (sensitivity of serology) varied from 0% to at most 28%. Presence of HPV DNA and antibodies to the same HPV type was not significantly correlated. However, seropositivity to any HPV type was significantly more common among patients positive for HPV DNA of any HPV type (odds ratio, 1.90; 95% confidence interval, 1.55-2.34). Seroprevalences were similar among the different patient groups but was, for most HPV types, somewhat higher among squamous cell carcinoma patients than among basal cell carcinoma patients (P < 0.01). In conclusion, additional studies are required to clarify the biological meaning of seropositivity as a marker of cutaneous HPV infection and skin disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Malmö University Hospital, Lund University, UMAS, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Waterboer
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kirnbauer
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Slupetzky
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iftner
authors.forename: Ethel-Michele
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: de Villiers
authors.forename: Ola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Forslund
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pawlita
authors.forename: Joakim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dillner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007642:Keratosis / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral