Time-lapse imaging points towards a non-toxic, mainly immune-driven mode of action of ingenol mebutate in the treatment of anogenital warts

Abstract

Recently, it has been reported that ingenol mebutate (IM) is an effective treatment option for anogenital warts (AGW), inducing fast wart necrosis within 24 hours in vivo. With regard to its mode of action, IM is thought to act both by direct cytotoxic effects and as an inducer of immunologic mechanisms. To distinguish, whether the wart necrosis is mainly caused by cytotoxic effects, or whether immune mechanisms are leading, we used time-lapse imaging to analyze IM-treated warts ex vivo over 24 hours. Ex vivo IM-treated warts, which have been detached from the immune system, did not show destructive necrosis, pointing towards a primarily immune-driven mode of action of IM in the treatment of AGW.

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