European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Warts are very common benign tumors caused by human papilloma virus (HPV)
infection, which is acquired from direct contact with an infected individual or from the
environment. Plantar warts are mostly refractory to treatments and represent a therapeutic
challenge.Immunotherapy has been used as a promising alternative therapeutic option in such
warts. Different agents have been used as Candida albicans antigen, measles, mumps, rubella
(MMR) antigen, tuberculin antigens like purified protein derivative (PPD), mycobacterium
indicus pranii (formerly known as mycobacterium welchii) (Mw) vaccines and Bacillus
Calmette- Guerin (BCG) vaccine and Trichophyton. The intralesional injections are thought
to work by inducing a systemic T-cell mediated response inducing principal increase in the
release of cytokines from Th1 cells such as IL-2 and IFN-γ.Interleukin-2 stimulates the
maturation of the natural killer T cell and promotes its cytotoxicity.