Evaluation of the Tissue Level of CXCL10 in Patients with Verruca Vulgaris

Abstract

Background: Verruca vulgaris is a common cutaneous viral infection characterized by epidermal hyperplasia and keratinocyte proliferation. The immune response in verruca vulgaris, particularly the role of chemokines, remains an area of ongoing investigation. CXCL10 is a chemokine with potential involvement in viral skin infections, but its tissue expression in verruca vulgaris has not been comprehensively studied. Our objective was to evaluate the tissue expression of CXCL10 within cutaneous lesions of verruca vulgaris. Methods: This prospective case-control trial included 50 cases with verruca vulgaris and collected lesional biopsies, along with control biopsies from healthy skin in 30 patients. Tissue CXCL-10 levels were assessed using an ELISA assay. The data was analyzed to determine the relationship between the levels of tissue CXCL-10 and verruca vulgaris, and the potential diagnostic value of CXCL-10. Results: Tissue levels of CXCL-10 were reported to be significantly increased in verruca lesions in comparison with healthy skin biopsies (p = 0.035). The sensitivity and specificity of tissue CXCL-10 in distinguishing verruca lesions from healthy skin were 70% and 54%, respectively, at a cut-off level of 248.4. Conclusions: Our study reveals an upregulation of CXCL10 in verruca vulgaris lesions, suggesting a potential role for this chemokine in its pathogenesis. Furthermore, the diagnostic value of tissue CXCL-10 in distinguishing verruca vulgaris from healthy skin suggests its potential as a biomarker for this viral skin infection