Increased natural killer cell activity in patients with epidermodysplasia verruciformis.

Six patients with epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) were studied for natural killer cell (NKC) cytotoxic response of their peripheral blood mononuclear cells against K-562 target cells in an 18-hour chromium 51-release assay. Four patients displayed higher cytotoxic responses than controls did, whereas two others did not differ from controls. Patients with EV who had increased NKC activity were found to be infected with potentially oncogenic human papillomaviruses (types 5, 8, 9, 14, 17, 19, 22, 24, and others), and they have had multiple skin carcinomas and/or Bowen's precancerous dermatosis. Two patients with EV who had normal cytotoxic response were free of skin malignancies.