An immunofluorescence study of warts.

An investigation of the incidence of wart virus-specific antibody and of virion antigens in patients with single or multiple warts taken from different anatomical sites showed that all warts did not contain antigen. The incidence was identical using either rabbit antiserum or human sera known to contain virus-specific antibody. The warts from sole, heel and toe had a much higher incidence of stainable virus antigen. Virus-specific staining was mainly found in the keratinized and granular layers of the wart but occasional synthesis in prickle cell layer was observed. All the patients who had virus antigens in their warts did not have virus-specific antibodies but no patient who had antibody lacked antigen. Of the virus-specific antibodies, the IgM class was predominant; a smaller number also contained virus-specific IgG antibody; none had virus antigens and both classes of virus-specific antibody. A wart cell-specific IgM was also found along with virus-specific antibodies and independent of them. An IgM producing fibrillar Staining in human embryonic lung cells was noted in some sera.