Persistent Oral Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection is Associated with Low Salivary Levels of Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 (MMP-8)

Human Papillomavirus Positivity at 3 Anatomical Sites Among Transgender Women in Central Brazil

BACKGROUND

Transgender women (TGW) are susceptible to the acquisition of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including human papillomavirus (HPV). Nonetheless, the exact data for this population are scarce. We estimated HPV positivity at the anal, genital, and oral sites among TGW and also identified the related characteristics and behaviors that could be risk factors for HPV infection in a sample of TGW in Brazil. Furthermore, we characterized the site-specific HPV genotypes among those who were positive for HPV at these 3 sites.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted on TGW in Goiânia City (Central-Midwest region), Brazil, between April 2018 and August 2019. Respondent-driven sampling was applied for recruitment. Next, self-collected anal, genital, and oral samples were examined for HPV DNA using polymerase chain reaction (SPF-10 primer). Human papillomavirus genotypes were identified in 12 TGW.

RESULTS

In the TGW included in the study, the anal, genital, and oral HPV positivity values were 77.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 67.3%-84.6%), 33.5% (95% CI, 26.1%-48.9%), and 10.9% (95% CI, 5.8%-17.0%), respectively. In addition, the majority of 12 participants who tested for HPV had multiple genotypes. HPV-52 was the most prevalent genotype identified at the anal (66.6%) and genital (40.0%) sites, whereas HPV-62 and HPV-66 were the most common at the oral site (25.0%).

CONCLUSIONS

A high HPV positivity was observed among TGW. Therefore, additional epidemiological studies on HPV genotypes should generate health intervention information, including the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.

Transmission and clearance of human papillomavirus infection in the oral cavity and its role in oropharyngeal carcinoma - A review

The majority of sexually active individuals becomes infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) at least once in their lifetime. Pathways for HPV transmission vary across different mucosal sites per individual. They include autoinoculation within one host, direct transmission between individuals (including perinatal transmission and transmission during sexual activity), and indirect transmission through contact with hands. The authors aim to clarify the prevalence and route of transmission per anatomic site, inter- and intra-individually, using a narrative review of the literature. In conclusion, transmission of HPV to the oral cavity and oropharynx is hypothesised to occur mainly through sexual contact. Transmission of particles through saliva has not been proven and daily living activities are not a documented source of HPV infection. Oropharyngeal HPV related cancer survivors and their partners do not show increased risk of infection during sexual intercourse. Transmission of HPV to the oral cavity (autoinoculation with fingers or transmission through saliva in deep kissing) is probably of limited importance.

Immune System Acts on Orthodontic Tooth Movement: Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms

Orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) is a tissue remodeling process based on orthodontic force loading. Compressed periodontal tissues have a complicated aseptic inflammatory cascade, which are considered the initial factor of alveolar bone remodeling. Since skeletal and immune systems shared a wide variety of molecules, osteoimmunology has been generally accepted as an interdisciplinary field to investigate their interactions. Unsurprisingly, OTM is considered a good mirror of osteoimmunology since it involves immune reaction and bone remolding. In fact, besides bone remodeling, OTM involves cementum resorption, soft tissue remodeling, orthodontic pain, and relapse, all correlated with immune cells and/or immunologically active substance. The aim of this paper is to review the interaction of immune system with orthodontic tooth movement, which helps gain insights into mechanisms of OTM and search novel method to short treatment period and control complications.

Oral and laryngeal HPV infection: Incidence, prevalence and risk factors, with special regard to concurrent infection in head, neck and genitals

This review focuses on the importance of oral and laryngeal HPV infection which is present in majority of sexually active individuals at least once in their lifetime. Despite testing, still little is known about prevalence rates, determinants and, especially, the concurrent HPV infection in head and neck, and genitals. The purpose of this review is to clarify some issues of oral HPV incidence, prevalence, and to demonstrate the difficulties in identification of asymptomatic oral HPV carriers. The main premise to take up this topic is the high and still increasing risk for development of oropharyngeal cancer, and potential benefit from screening strategies, education programs and HPV vaccination. Transmission of HPV to the oral cavity and oropharynx is hypothesized to occur mainly through sexual contact. The exposure of oropharyngeal mucosa to HPV infection with consequence of increased risk for oropharyngeal carcinoma depends on specific sexual behavior. Male gender, older age, race or ethnicity, oral hygiene and current cigarette smoking are independently associated with any prevalent oral HPV infection.

The role of HPV gene expression and selected cellular MiRNAs in lung cancer development

BACKGROUND

The high mortality rate of lung cancer can be justified that strong need to explore new aspect of tumor biology. Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been detected as risk factor for the development of lung cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the role of HPV and cellular/miRNAs genes expression in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and development of lung cancer.

METHODS

In this case-control study, 109 lung cancer tissue and 52 controls were included. We analyzed the presence of HPV infection, its genotypes (in positive samples) and the expression of viral genes (E2, E6 and E7). Also, We examined the expression of celluar factors including (a) p53 and retinoblastoma (Rb) (as anti-carcinogenic genes), (b) EMT related genes, (c) selected miRNAs.

RESULTS

Our results reported 51.4% and 23.1% of HPV genome in tumor tissues and control tissues samples, respectively. There was a significant association between the HPV positive status and lung cancer (OR = 3.26, 95% C.I = 1.47-7.02, P = 0.001). HPV type 16 was the most prevalent genotype in tissues. The expression of p53, RB, TIMP1, CCNG-1, E-cad and PTPN13 were decreased while MMP-2 and N-cad were increased in HPV-positive tumor/control tissues compared to HPV-negative tissues. Also, among miRNAs, let-7, miR-23, miR-34, miR-125, miR-146 were downregulated and miR-20, miR-424 were upregulated in HPV-positve tissues compared to HPV-negative tissues.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that HPV infection and interaction with cellular genes and miRNAs promote EMT which involved in the lung cancer development.

Bone turnover markers in serum but not in saliva correlate with bone mineral density

Saliva was proposed as a diagnostic tool for systemic diseases. Here we determined the correlation of bone turnover markers in saliva, bone turnover markers in serum and bone mineral density in postmenopausal osteoporotic and healthy women. Forty postmenopausal osteoporotic and 40 age-matched healthy non-osteoporotic females were recruited for this case–control study. Serum and stimulated saliva levels of osteocalcin, N-terminal propeptide of type I collagen, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and cross-linked-C-telopeptide of type I collagen were determined. Bone mineral density of the lumbar spine, proximal femur, and total hip were obtained. We show that osteocalcin and cross-linked-C-telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) reached detectable levels in saliva while N-terminal propeptide of type I collagen and alkaline phosphatase were close or below the detection limit. Serum levels of bone turnover markers were significantly higher than saliva levels. Correlation analysis revealed a strong correlation of serum osteocalcin and, to a lesser extent, also serum CTX values with bone mineral density in lumbar spine, femoral neck, or total hip, respectively. There was, however, no significant correlation of bone mineral density with the respective bone turnover markers in saliva. There was a trend that saliva osteocalcin correlates with femoral neck (p = 0.16) or total hip (p = 0.06). There was also no association between serum and saliva bone turnover markers. This study reveals that saliva cannot replace the withdrawal of serum to evaluate bone metabolism.

The HPV-18 E7 CKII phospho acceptor site is required for maintaining the transformed phenotype of cervical tumour-derived cells

The Human Papillomavirus E7 oncoprotein plays an essential role in the development and maintenance of malignancy, which it achieves through targeting a number of critical cell control pathways. An important element in the ability of E7 to contribute towards cell transformation is the presence of a Casein Kinase II phospho-acceptor site within the CR2 domain of the protein. Phosphorylation is believed to enhance E7 interaction with a number of different cellular target proteins, and thereby increase the ability of E7 to enhance cell proliferation and induce malignancy. However, there is little information on how important this site in E7 is, once the tumour cells have become fully transformed. In this study, we have performed genome editing of the HPV-18 E7 CKII recognition site in C4-1 cervical tumour-derived cells. We first show that mutation of HPV18 E7 S32/S34 to A32/A34 abolishes CKII phosphorylation of E7, and subsequently we have isolated C4-1 clones containing these mutations in E7. The cells continue to proliferate, but are somewhat more slow-growing than wild type cells, reach lower saturation densities, and are also more susceptible to low nutrient conditions. These cells are severely defective in matrigel invasion assays, partly due to downregulation of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs). Mechanistically, we find that phosphorylation of E7 plays a direct role in the ability of E7 to activate AKT signaling, which in turn is required for optimal levels of MMP secretion. These results demonstrate that the E7 CKII phospho-acceptor site thus continues to play an important role for E7's activity in cells derived from cervical cancers, and suggests that blocking this activity of E7 could be expected to have therapeutic potential.

Association of MMP-8 rs2012390 and rs11225394 polymorphisms with osteonecrosis of the femoral head risks: Evidence from a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The association of MMP-8 rs2012390 and rs11225394 polymorphisms with osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) risks was investigated in several studies with conflicting results. We performed the meta-analysis to evaluate the association between them.

METHODS

Potentially relevant literatures were searched from the electronic databases of PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. All databases were searched up to May 6, 2018. The strength of associations of the MMP-8 rs2012390 and rs11225394 polymorphisms with ONFH risk was assessed by crude odds ratios (ORs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) under different genetic models.

RESULTS

A total of 1469 cases diagnosed with ONFH and 1211 healthy controls were included in the current meta-analysis. A remarkable association between rs11225394 in the MMP-8 gene and an increased risk of ONFH was found (allele model: OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.09-1.61, P = .005; heterozygote model: OR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.13-1.71, P = .002; dominant model: OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.14-1.73, P = .002, respectively). Meanwhile, a significant association between MMP-8 rs2012390 and the decreased risk of ONFH was found in heterozygote model (OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.51-0.77, P < .00001).

CONCLUSION

The meta-analysis results showed a remarkable association between rs11225394 in MMP-8 gene and an increased risk of ONFH and a significant association between MMP-8 rs2012390 and the decreased risk of ONFH.