Patients with condyloma acuminatum exhibit decreased interleukin-2 and interferon gamma production and depressed natural killer activity.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from 20 untreated condyloma acuminatum patients and from an equal number of sex- and age-matched controls and assayed for cell surface antigen expression, natural killer activity, and lymphokine production. Patient peripheral blood mononuclear cells had significantly lower helper-to-suppressor T-cell ratios (Leu3/Leu2) (P less than 0.05) and significantly higher percentages of Leu 2+ Tac+ cells (activated suppressor/cytotoxic cells) (P less than 0.05) and Leu 2+ OKM1+ cells (suppressor cells) (P less than 0.01). Natural killer activity of condyloma acuminatum patients was significantly lower (P less than 0.05) than that of controls. Production of interleukin-2 and interferon gamma, but not interferon alpha, was significantly (P less than 0.01) decreased in condyloma acuminatum patients. There was an inverse correlation between the in vitro production of interleukin-2 and interferon gamma and the percentage of Leu 2+ OKM1+ cells (suppressor) (P less than 0.01). Thus, patients with condyloma acuminatum differ from controls by demonstrating decreased natural killer-cell activity, decreased production of lymphokines which enhance natural killer-cell activity (i.e., interferon gamma and interleukin-2), and an increased proportion of T cells with a suppressor phenotype.