PREVALENCE OF ANTIBODIES AGAINST VIRUS-LIKE PARTICLES OF EPIDERMODYSPLASIA VERRUCIFORMIS-ASSOCIATED HPV8 IN PATIENTS AT RISK OF SKIN-CANCER

There is increasing evidence for widespread occurrences of infection w ith Epidermodysplasia verruciformis-related human papillomaviruses, bo th in the general population and in immunosuppressed patients. In orde r to test for the prevalence of antibodies directed against the native L1 epitopes exposed on the surface of the virions, we have establishe d an IgG-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with L1 virus-like particles of the Epidermodysplasia verruciformis-specific human papil lonlavirus 8 as antigen to screen 567 representative serum samples fro m the general population and immunosuppressed/dermatologic patients. A mong healthy European donors (n = 210), 7.6% were found to be seroposi tive. In a group of renal transplant recipients (n = 185) the antibody prevalence was elevated to 21.1%, irrespective of the presence or abs ence of skin cancer. High positivity rates could be detected among (i) immunocompetent patients with nonmelanoma skin tumors (45.6%, n = 79) and (ii) Psoralene/WA treated psoriasis patients (42.9%, n = 42), In contrast, anti-human papillomavirus 8-virus-like particle antibodies w ere found in only 6.8% of Hodgkin lymphoma patients (n = 44).