Human papillomavirus type 45 E7 is a transforming protein inducing retinoblastoma protein degradation and anchorage-independent cell cycle progression

Understanding the HPV associated cancers: A comprehensive review

Human papillomavirus (HPV), a common cause of sexually transmitted diseases, may cause warts and lead to various types of cancers, which makes it important to understand the risk factors associated with it. HPV is the leading risk factor and plays a crucial role in the progression of cervical cancer. Viral oncoproteins E6 and E7 play a pivotal role in this process. Beyond cervical cancer, HPV-associated cancers of the mouth and throat are also increasing. HPV can also contribute to other malignancies like penile, vulvar, and vaginal cancers. Emerging evidence links HPV to these cancers. Research on the oncogenic effect of HPV is still ongoing and explorations of screening techniques, vaccination, immunotherapy and targeted therapeutics are all in progress. The present review offers valuable insight into the current understanding of the role of HPV in cancer and its potential implications for treatment and prevention in the future.

Impact of HPV strains on molecular mechanisms of cervix cancer

PURPOSE

Cervical cancer accounts for a high number of deaths worldwide. Risk factors are extensive for cervix cancer but Human papillomavirus (HPV) plays a prime role in its development. Different strains of HPV are prevalent globally, which show different grades of mortality and morbidity among women. This study is planned to evaluate the molecular mechanism of different strains of HPV infection and progression leading to cervix cancer.

METHODS

This review includes different research articles on cervix cancer progression reported from India and all over the world.

RESULTS

HPV 16 and 18 are prevalent strains using heparan sulfate-independent and dependent pathways for viral replication inside the cell. It also uses transcription mechanisms through NF-kappa B, FOXA-1, and AP-1 genes while strains like HPV-35, 45, and 52 are also predominant in India, which showed a very slow mechanism of progression due to which mortality rate is low after their infection with these strains.

CONCLUSION

HPV uses E6 and E7 proteins which activate NF-kappa B and AP-1 pathway which suppresses the tumor suppressor gene and activates cytokine production, causing inflammation and leading to a decrease in apoptosis due to Caspase-3 activation. In contrast, the E7 protein involves HOXA genes and decreases apoptotic factors due to which mortality and incidence rates are low in viruses that use E7 motifs. Some HPV strains employ the cap-dependent pathway, which is also associated with lower mortality and infection rates.

Prevention Strategies and Early Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer: Current State and Prospects

Cervical cancer ranks third among all new cancer cases and causes of cancer deaths in females. The paper provides an overview of cervical cancer prevention strategies employed in different regions, with incidence and mortality rates ranging from high to low. It assesses the effectiveness of approaches proposed by national healthcare systems by analysing data published in the National Library of Medicine (Pubmed) since 2018 featuring the following keywords: "cervical cancer prevention", "cervical cancer screening", "barriers to cervical cancer prevention", "premalignant cervical lesions" and "current strategies". WHO's 90-70-90 global strategy for cervical cancer prevention and early screening has proven effective in different countries in both mathematical models and clinical practice. The data analysis carried out within this study identified promising approaches to cervical cancer screening and prevention, which can further enhance the effectiveness of the existing WHO strategy and national healthcare systems. One such approach is the application of AI technologies for detecting precancerous cervical lesions and choosing treatment strategies. As such studies show, the use of AI can not only increase detection accuracy but also ease the burden on primary care.

Association between Cervical Microbiota and HPV: Could This Be the Key to Complete Cervical Cancer Eradication?

Simple Summary

The microbiota can modulate immune responses and modify the physiology of the human organism, thereby increasing infective risks and a neoplastic predisposition. In this review, we focus on the composition of the cervical microbiota, to identify the risk of developing Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia and better understand the interaction between cervico-vaginal microbiota and human papillomavirus as a means of promoting the identification of new therapeutic strategies. In fact, no therapy for HPV is yet available. A better understanding of the cervical micro-environment could be a key element allowing complete viral clearance to be achieved in largely affected populations.

Abstract

The heterogeneity of the cervico-vaginal microbiota can be appreciated in various conditions, both pathological and non-pathological, and can vary according to biological and environmental factors. Attempts are still in course to define the interaction and role of the various factors that constitute this community of commensals in immune protection, inflammatory processes, and the onset of precancerous lesions of the cervical epithelium. Despite the many studies on the relationship between microbiota, immunity, and HPV-related cervical tumors, further aspects still need to be probed. In this review article, we will examine the principal characteristics of microorganisms commonly found in cervico-vaginal specimens (i) the factors that notoriously condition the diversity and composition of microbiota, (ii) the role that some families of organisms may play in the onset of HPV-dysplastic lesions and in neoplastic progression, and (iii) possible diagnostic-therapeutic approaches.

High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Infection and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Korean Women

RATIONALE

Until now, no cohort studies have evaluated the relationship between high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and new-onset cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

OBJECTIVE

We investigated an association between high-risk HPV infection and the development of CVD.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We conducted a cohort study of 63 411 women aged 30 or older without CVD at baseline who underwent a high-risk HPV test and were followed annually or biennially from 2011 to 2016. CVD was ascertained through the linkage to the Health Insurance and Review Agency database. A Cox-proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs of incident CVD. The prevalence of high-risk HPV infection was 7.6%. During 261 598.9 person-years of follow-up, 1122 cases of new-onset CVD were identified (incidence rate of 4.3 per 10³ person-years). High-risk HPV infection was significantly associated with incident CVD. After adjustment for possible confounders, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein, a significant association between high-risk HPV infection and incident CVD was still observed, with a corresponding HR (95% CI) of 1.25 (1.03-1.52). This association was stronger among individuals with obesity and those with metabolic syndrome. Multivariable-adjusted HR (95% CI) for incident CVD comparing high-risk HPV-positive- to high-risk HPV-negative participants was 1.10 (0.87-1.39) in the nonobese, whereas corresponding HR (95% CI) was 1.73 (1.19-2.51) in those with obesity ( P for interaction by obesity=0.02). Similarly, multivariable-adjusted HR (95% CI) for incident CVD comparing high-risk HPV-positive- to high-risk HPV-negative participants was 1.09 (0.87-1.36) in those without metabolic syndrome and 1.99 (1.28-3.08) in those with MetS ( P for interaction=0.05).

CONCLUSION

In this large cohort, high-risk HPV infection was significantly associated with an increased risk of developing CVD, especially in obese individuals and those with MetS, indicating that high-risk HPV might affect CVD risk with possible effect modification by obesity and MetS.

Strong inverse correlation between microRNA-125b and human papillomavirus DNA in productive infection

Infection by the human papillomavirus (HPV) is a cause of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cancer. microRNA (miRNA) in situ analysis of the transformation zone epithelia, the site of initial cervical HPV infection, showed that miRNAs let-7c, -99a, 26a, and 125b were the most abundantly expressed. In situ testing of CIN 1 showed a dramatic reduction in miR-125b expression in the koilocytes, the cytologic marker of productive HPV infection. A marked reduction in miR-125b was likewise observed in the HPV-infected cells of the condyloma acuminatum, verruca vulgaris, and epidermodysplasia verruciformis. Reverse transcriptase in situ polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed that the pre-miRNA 125b was present in the koilocyte, suggesting direct inactivation of the mature miRNA. HEK cells transfected with only the antimiR-125b showed perinuclear halos equivalent to HPV-infected koilocytes. NIH 3T3 cells transfected with the HPV 16 full-length genome and mimetic miR-125b showed a marked reduction in viral DNA and protein synthesis by quantitative PCR and in situ-based analyses, respectively (P=0.002). Alternatively, cotransfection with anti-miR-125b and HPV 16 markedly increased HPV DNA (P=0.002). Sequence analyses showed strong homology between L2 of different HPV genotypes and miR-125b. Transfection with HPV 16 L2 resulted in a marked reduction in miR-125b levels in the NIH 3T3 cells. HPV L2-induced inactivation of miR-125b is associated with the classic cytologic changes of the koilocyte, and the exogenous application of mimetic miR-125b markedly inhibits HPV DNA synthesis.

Subcellular localization of the human papillomavirus 16 E7 oncoprotein in CaSki cells and its detection in cervical adenocarcinoma and adenocarcinoma in situ

E7 is the major oncoprotein of high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPV) which causes cervical cancer. To date E7 oncoproteins have not been investigated in cervical adenocarcinoma. In this study we generated a rabbit monoclonal anti-HPV-16 E7 antibody, RabMab42-3, which recognizes a conformational epitope in the E7 carboxy-terminal zinc-finger resulting in a strong increase in the sensitivity for the detection of cell-associated HPV-16 E7 protein relative to conventional polyclonal anti-HPV-16 E7 antibodies. Using RabMab42-3, we show that the subcellular localization of endogenous HPV-16 E7 oncoprotein varies during the cell cycle in cervical cancer cells. Moreover, we demonstrate for the first time that the HPV-16 E7 oncoprotein is abundantly expressed in cervical adenocarcinoma in situ and adenocarcinoma, suggesting an important role of HPV-16 E7 for the development of these tumors. Our findings suggest that the HPV-16 E7 oncoprotein could be a useful marker for the detection of cervical adenocarcinoma and their precursors.