Local immune response in condyloma acuminatum treated with aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy

Abstract

Objective To investigate the local immune response in condyloma acuminatum treated with aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT).Methods In vitro and in vivo studies were performed.A previously established keratinocyte cell line human papilloma virus (HPV) 16E7/HaCaT which stably expresses HPV16E7 protein was used in this study.Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were separated from 10 healthy volunteers.After pretreatment with ALA-PDT,HPV16E7/HaCaT cells were cocultured with the PBMCs for 3 hours in a Transwell chamber followed by the observation of chemotactic migration of PBMCs.Tissue samples were obtained from the lesions of 10 patients with condyloma acuminatum before,and at 1,2,3 and 48 hours after the first session of ALA-PDT.Immunohistochemistry was conducted to determine the number of CD4+ T cells,CD8+ T cells and CD68+ macrophages as well as CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio in the tissue samples.Results After 3-hour coculture with HPV16E7/HaCaT cells pretreated by ALA-PDT,PBMCs showed apparent chemotactic migration.Immunohistochemistry revealed a statistical increase in the number of CD4+ T cells,CD8+ T cells and CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio at 48 hours (all P ＜ 0.05),as well as in the number of CD68+ macrophages at 3 hours and 48 hours (both P ＜ 0.05) after the first session of ALA-PDT.Conclusion ALA-PDT may induce local antiviral immune response in condyloma acuminatum. Key words: Condylomata acuminata; Aminolevulinic acid; Photochemotherapy; Immunity