**About the Editor**

**Stefano Aquaro** is a full professor of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology as well as a full professor of Virology at the University of Calabria, Italy (2006–present), where he is also the head of Microbiology and Virology Laboratory Dept. of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences. He is an M.D. graduated with full marks at University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Italy, and a consultant in Medical Microbiology and Virology (University of Rome "Tor Vergata" cum Laude). He was also the head of the "Home Care Unit for people living with HIV/AIDS in Rome", NPO, Italy (1994–1996). He was equally the founder and president of R.O.M.A. (Research Office and Medical Assistance) NPO, providing home care for people living with HIV/AIDS and chronic diseases (2000–2005). Furthermore, Professor Aquaro was a research fellow at the Dept. of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Italy (1995–1999). He has also been an associate research professor of Virology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Italy (1999–2002). He has also been a researcher (1999–2001) and a visiting professor (October–December 2004) at the Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, "Rega Institute", Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. He was also a research professor at the Dept. of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Italy (2002–2006), and a member of the Committee, School of Doctorate in Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Italy (2003–2006). Finally, he has been a member of the Committee, School of Doctorate in Cellular Biochemistry and drugs activity in Oncology, University of Calabria, Italy (2007–2012), as well as of the Committee, School of Doctorate in Translational medicine, University of Calabria, Italy (2013–present). His research is mainly focused on virus evolution, virus virulence and pathogenicity, and antiviral drugs.

#### **Preface to "Features of Pathogenesis of Human Viral Infections and Antiviral Drugs"**

Among infectious diseases, viral infections are the leading cause of death worldwide, especially in the most low-income countries, particularly in young children. Most of the human viruses are all well characterized in terms of structure, life-cycle, tropism, and associated primary pathologies, but many of the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying their ability to cause acute infection, persist or reactivate in the host and cause chronic and/or degenerative damage, and still need to be fully clarified. At the same time, it seems necessary to develop novel therapeutic approaches and rationale, and possibly more potent antiviral compounds that are addressed to novel targets.

> **Stefano Aquaro** *Editor*

*Article*

#### **The Relationship between the Soluble Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products and Oxidative Stress in Patients with Palmoplantar Warts**

**Cristina Iulia Mitran 1,2, Ilinca Nicolae 3, Mircea Tampa 1,3,\*, Madalina Irina Mitran 1,2, Constantin Caruntu 1,4,\*, Maria Isabela Sarbu 1, Corina Daniela Ene 5, Clara Matei 1, Antoniu Cringu Ionescu 1, Simona Roxana Georgescu 1,3,\* and Mircea Ioan Popa 1,2**


Received: 28 August 2019; Accepted: 16 October 2019; Published: 20 October 2019

**Abstract:** *Background and objectives*: Warts are the most common lesions caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Recent research suggests that oxidative stress and inflammation are involved in the pathogenesis of HPV-related lesions. It has been shown that the soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) may act as a protective factor against the deleterious e ffects of inflammation and oxidative stress, two interconnected processes. However, in HPV infection, the role of sRAGE, constitutively expressed in the skin, has not been investigated in previous studies. *Materials and Methods*: In order to analyze the role of sRAGE in warts, we investigated the link between sRAGE and the inflammatory response on one hand, and the relationship between sRAGE and the total oxidant/antioxidant status (TOS/TAS) on the other hand, in both patients with palmoplantar warts (*n* = 24) and healthy subjects as controls (*n* = 28). *Results*: Compared to the control group, our results showed that patients with warts had lower levels of sRAGE (1036.50 ± 207.60 pg/mL vs. 1215.32 ± 266.12 pg/mL, *p* < 0.05), higher serum levels of TOS (3.17 ± 0.27 vs. 2.93 ± 0.22 μmol H2O2 Eq/L, *p* < 0.01), lower serum levels of TAS (1.85 ± 0.12 vs. 2.03 ± 0.14 μmol Trolox Eq/L, *p* < 0.01) and minor variations of the inflammation parameters (high sensitivity-CRP, interleukin-6, fibrinogen, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate). Moreover, in patients with warts, sRAGE positively correlated with TAS (r = 0.43, *p* < 0.05), negatively correlated with TOS (r = −0.90, *p* < 0.01), and there was no significant correlation with inflammation parameters. There were no significant di fferences regarding the studied parameters between groups when we stratified the patients according to the number of the lesions and disease duration. *Conclusions*: Our results sugges<sup>t</sup> that sRAGE acts as a negative regulator of oxidative stress and could represent a mediator involved in the development of warts. However, we consider that the level of sRAGE cannot be used as a biomarker for the severity of warts. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that sRAGE could be involved in HPV pathogenesis and represent a marker of oxidative stress in patients with warts.

**Keywords:** sRAGE; oxidative stress; inflammation; warts; HPV
