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Published on: March 8, 2012
Effect of interferon therapy on human papillomavirus copy number in patients with Condyloma acuminatum
1Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555-1019, USA.
Abstract:
Interferons exert antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunomodulatory effects on target cells. The effectiveness of interferon treatment can be followed by measuring parameters involved in interferon action. The clinical effectiveness of interferons has been proved in the human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated disease condyloma acuminatum. Because one of the most important goals in the treatment of this condition is the elimination of recurrences, it was asked whether clinically effective interferon therapy was associated with elimination of HPV DNA. The authors used a polymerase chain reaction-based method to detect the HPV from minute amounts of clinical biopsies. Human papillomavirus-transformed cell lines or cloned HPV genomes served as different copy number controls. The intensity ratio of L1 HPV and the human beta-globin (which served as an internal control) fragments was determined and used for estimation of HPV copy number in different biopsies. A direct effect of interferon treatment on HPV viral genome copies was observed in a group of responder patients, but not in the clinically resistant group. With these data, a correlation was found between virologic data and clinical findings. This method also can be used in other lesions to determine the HPV copy number and HPV type and may have value in determining the antiviral activities of other agents used in the treatment of HPV-related lesions.
Insights
Interferon therapy reduced human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in patients with condyloma acuminatum. This study correlated clinical response with a decrease in HPV viral load, suggesting a direct antiviral effect.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Interferons possess antiviral and immunomodulatory properties.
- Clinical efficacy of interferon treatment is established for human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated condyloma acuminatum.
- Eliminating recurrences is a key treatment goal, necessitating investigation into HPV DNA clearance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if clinically effective interferon therapy eliminates HPV DNA.
- To correlate virologic findings with clinical outcomes in condyloma acuminatum treatment.
- To establish a method for quantifying HPV DNA in clinical biopsies.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method for HPV detection in clinical biopsies.
- Employed human papillomavirus-transformed cell lines and cloned HPV genomes as controls.
- Quantified HPV DNA by determining the intensity ratio of L1 HPV fragments to human beta-globin internal control fragments.
Main Results:
- A direct reduction in HPV viral genome copies was observed in patients responding to interferon therapy.
- No significant decrease in HPV viral genome copies was found in clinically resistant patients.
- Established a correlation between virologic data (HPV DNA levels) and clinical findings.
Conclusions:
- Clinically effective interferon therapy is associated with a reduction in HPV DNA.
- The developed PCR-based method allows for HPV DNA quantification and typing.
- This methodology can assess antiviral activities of agents used for HPV-related lesions.
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