P53 PROTEIN EXPRESSION IN VIRAL WARTS FROM PATIENTS WITH EPIDERMODYSPLASIA-VERRUCIFORMIS

The p53 protein is the product of a tumour suppressor gene, which is i mplicated in many human malignancies. p53 expression was investigated by immunohistochemistry in a series of viral warts (n = 12) from five patients with epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV), using a monoclonal anti-p53 antibody (D07). p53 expression was also investigated in a se ries of common warts (n = 8), nat warts (n = 8), and penile bowenoid p apulosis (n = 6) from non-EV patients. Immunostaining was positive in 11 of 12 (92%) EV warts, whereas p53 reactivity was negative in most c ases of warts from non-EV patients. Exons 5-8 of the p53 gene were scr eened by the polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation poly morphism technique in four EV warts, which were strongly stained for p 53, and p53 mutations were not detected. These results suggest an asso ciation between p53 accumulation (probably of wild type) and EV warts.