Integrity of a HPV11 infection cell model and identification of (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate as a potential HPV11 inhibitor

Evaluating the Efficacy of Pervistop®, a New Combination Based on EGCG, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 and Hyaluronic Acid on Patients with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Persistent Infections and Cervical Lesions: A Pilot Study

Background: The persistence of the HPV infection is a risk factor in the integration of viral DNA in the host genome, leading to transforming events. The lack of therapies for HPV-persistent infections determine an unmet medical need. Methods: We enrolled forty patients with persistent HPV infections and cervical lesions and divided them into two groups. The women in the treated group received 200 mg epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), 400 µg folic acid (FA), 1 mg vitamin B12, and 50 mg hyaluronic acid (HA) for 12 weeks. The control group received no treatment. Results: 40 patients completed the study. Fifteen out of 20 women in the control group still had an LSIL at the end of the study. One woman had a decrease in the DNA load, while six had no change and eight had an increase in DNA content. In the treatment group, 17 out of 20 women achieved a full viral clearance. These women showed no cytological or histological evidence of lesions following the treatment. Conclusions: Our data highlight the possible effect of such combination on LSIL. Therefore, the evidence reported here supports the potential to carry out further randomized placebo-controlled studies with an adequate number of patients to verify our results.

Effects of green tea extract epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on oral disease-associated microbes: a review

For thousands of years, caries, periodontitis and mucosal diseases, which are closely related to oral microorganisms, have always affected human health and quality of life. These complex microbiota present in different parts of the mouth can cause chronic infections in the oral cavity under certain conditions, some of which can also lead to acute and systemic diseases. With the mutation of related microorganisms and the continuous emergence of drug-resistant strains, in order to prevent and treat related diseases, in addition to the innovation of diagnosis and treatment technology, the development of new antimicrobial drugs is also important. Catechins are polyphenolic compounds in green tea, some of which are reported to provide health benefits for a variety of diseases. Studies have shown that epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant and effective active ingredient in green tea catechins, which acts against a variety of gram-positive and negative bacteria, as well as some fungi and viruses. This review aims to summarize the research progress on the activity of EGCG against common oral disease-associated organisms and discuss the mechanisms of these actions, hoping to provide new medication strategies for the prevention and treatment of oral infectious diseases, the future research of EGCG and its translation into clinical practice are also discussed.

Green Tea Polyphenols Cause Apoptosis and Autophagy in HPV-16 Subgene-Immortalized Human Cervical Epithelial Cells via the Activation of the Nrf2 Pathway

Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is relatively common and certain high-risk HPV strains can induce epithelial dysplasia, increasing the risk of cervical cancer. Green tea polyphenol (GTP) preparations exhibit diverse anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and antitumor properties In Vitro and In Vivo. Topical GTP application has been recommended as a treatment for genital warts, but the effect of GTP treatment on HPV infection and HPV-associated cancer remains to be established. The present study aimed to explore the mechanism by which GTP affected HPV type 16 (HPV-16)-positive immortalized human cervical epithelial cells. Survival, apoptosis, and autophagocytosis of these cells following GTP treatment was assessed using CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, and monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining. These cells were further transfected with an shRNA specific for Nrf2 to generate stable Nrf2-knockdown cells. The levels of Caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bax, P53, Rb, HPV-16 E6, HPV-16 E7, P62, Beclin1 and LC3B were determined via Western blotting. These analyses revealed that GTP treatment induced autophagy and apoptosis in HPV-16-positive cells, while Nrf2 gene knockdown reversed GTP-induced autophagic and apoptotic effects. Together, these results suggested that GTP could alleviate HPV infection and HPV-associated precancerous lesions In Vitro by regulating the Nrf2 pathway, highlighting the therapeutic potential of GTP in treating HPV infection.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate Can Prevent Type 2 Human Papillomavirus E7 from Suppressing Interferon-Stimulated Genes

Human papillomavirus (HPV) in high-risk groups is known to suppress the type I interferon (IFN) signaling pathway leading to the transcription of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), which have many antiviral functions. However, the effects of HPV on the action of various ISGs in low-risk groups are not fully understood. We aimed to investigate whether antiviral ISGs are expressed in transfected keratinocytes with type 2 HPV (HPV-2) E7. The mRNA and protein expressions of ISGs and type I IFN signaling pathway components were evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blot, immunofluorescence, and/or immunohistochemistry. Compared with normal skin, mRNA expression of all ISGs in HPV-2 positive cutaneous warts was significantly decreased (p < 0.05). In comparison with empty vector transfection, E7 transfection significantly down-regulated the mRNA and protein expressions of ISGs and type I IFN signaling pathway components, which were significantly up-regulated by E7 siRNA transfection (p < 0.05). Interestingly, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) pretreatment up-regulated the mRNA and protein expressions of ISGs and type I IFN signaling pathway components, which were significantly down-regulated by E7 transfection (p < 0.05). Our results demonstrate that EGCG is a potential candidate for cutaneous wart prevention.

HPV11 E6 mutation by overexpression of APOBEC3A and effects of interferon-ω on APOBEC3s and HPV11 E6 expression in HPV11.HaCaT cells

BACKGROUND

Condyloma acuminatum, infected by low-risk human papillomaviruses (e.g., HPV6 and HPV11), is one of the most widespread sexually transmitted diseases. Apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like 3 proteins (APOBEC3s, A3s) are cellular cytidine deaminases acting as antiviral factors through hypermutation of viral genome. However, it remains unknown whether A3s results in HPV11 gene mutations and interferon-ω (IFN-ω) exhibits antiviral activities through the A3s system. Here we investigated whether enhanced APOBEC3A (A3A) resulted in the E6 gene mutations and explore the effects of recombinant human interferon-ω (rhIFN-ω) on A3s/E6 expression in HaCaT keratinocytes containing the genome of HPV 11 (HPV11.HaCaT cells).

METHODS

A3A-overexpressed HPV11.HaCaT (A3A-HPV11.HaCaT) cells were established by lentiviral infection and verified by immunofluorescence and western-blotting. Cell cycle, E6 gene mutations, APOBEC3s/E6 gene expression and subcellular localization were detected by FACS, 3D-PCR and sequencing, qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence respectively.

RESULTS

The results suggested that A3A-HPV11.HaCaT cells were successfully established. Enhanced A3A induced S-phase arrest, G > A/C > T mutations and obvious reduction of E6 mRNA expression. A3A/A3B mRNA expression was up-regulated at 6 h and 12 h and obvious A3A staining existed throughout HPV11.HaCaT cells after rhIFN-ω treatment. RhIFN-ω could also inhibit mRNA expression of HPV11 E6 significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

Enhanced A3A repressed HPV11 E6 expression through gene hypermutation, and rhIFN-ω might be an effective agent against HPV11 infection by up-regulation of A3A.

NF-κB inhibition rescues Toll-like receptor 9 expression in human papillomavirus type 11 infected HaCaT cells

OBJECTIVES

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are related to human papillomavirus (HPV) infections including condyloma acuminatum (CA). This study was designed to investigate the mechanism of TLR9 and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in CA.

METHODS

Expression of TLR9 protein in CA patients was detected and compared with those in CA relapse-free (CaRF) patients and normal control. HaCaT cells were transfected with HPV11 genome and NF-κB p65 siRNA or IκB kinase inhibitor BMS345541. Expression of NF-κB and TLR9 were detected using both PCR and Western blot methods.

RESULTS

TLR9 was downregulated in CA specimens as compared to CaRF and normal controls. HPV11 transfection into HaCaT (HPV11.HaCaT) cells reduced TLR9 expression and activated NF-κB p65 expression. However, administration of NF-κB p65 siRNA or IκB kinase inhibitor BMS345541 significantly inhibited NF-κB p65 expression and rescued the expression of TLR9.

CONCLUSION

Inhibition of NF-κB activation could rescue TLR9 expression in HPV11.HaCaT cells. TLR9/NF-κB mechanism may provide new target for clinical treatment of CA.