Genital warts could be connected to HLA system
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A link between condylomas, or genital warts, and the human leukocyte antigen system could suggest a genetic risk for contraction, according to a poster presented at the EADV Congress virtual meeting.
“The human leukocyte antigen system (HLA) is part of the immune system involved in antigen presentation,” Pernille Lindsø Andersen, MSc, of the department of dermatology at Zealand University Hospital, and colleagues wrote. “Condyloma are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. ... Previous research on associations between HLA system and HPV infection have primarily focused on high-risk HPV and cancers. Thus, the association between genital warts and HLA types is poorly understood.”
Researchers included 65,791 participants in the Danish Blood Donor Study, of which 4,199 (median age, 32 years; median BMI, 24.2 kg/m2; 46.9% women; 20.9% smokers) were condyloma acuminata cases and 61,592 (median age, 39.4 years; median BMI, 24.7 kg/m2; 48.8% women; 15% smokers) were controls.
Seven risk alleles and 12 protective alleles of condylomas were identified. Some of these alleles have been associated with HPV in previous studies. Those with the risk alleles were less likely to recognize HPV and were more likely to develop genital warts, while those with the protective alleles were more likely to have better immune response and have a lower risk of developing genital warts.
“Condylomas is one of the most prevalent of all sexually transmitted diseases, but its association with the HLA system is poorly understood,” Andersen said in a press release. “Our research identifies key immunologic features that prove there is a link between the immune system and condylomas.”
The study authors suggest additional research into how the HLA system is connected to genital warts and if the connection could provide targets for antiviral treatment or vaccines.
“Our data illustrated known and novel HLA alleles with significantly altered risk of condylomas as clinical presentation of HPV infection,” the authors wrote. “As suggested by others, HLA alleles associated with HPV infection may have specific immunological properties related to presentation of viral antigens.”
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Andersen PL, et al. ePoster. Condylomas and the HLA system. Presented at: European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress; Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 2021 (virtual meeting).
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