1
|
Albano C, Biolatti M, Mazibrada J, Pasquero S, Gugliesi F, Lo Cigno I, Calati F, Bajetto G, Riva G, Griffante G, Landolfo S, Gariglio M, De Andrea M, Dell’Oste V. PAD-mediated citrullination is a novel candidate diagnostic marker and druggable target for HPV-associated cervical cancer. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1359367. [PMID: 38529474 PMCID: PMC10961408 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1359367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Citrullination is an emerging post-translational modification catalyzed by peptidyl-arginine deiminases (PADs) that convert peptidyl-arginine into peptidyl-citrulline. In humans, the PAD family consists of five isozymes (PADs 1-4, 6) involved in multiple diseases, including cancer. Given that high-risk (hr) human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are the etiological agents of cervical cancer, in this study, we sought to determine whether PAD-mediated protein citrullination would play a functional role in the HPV-driven transformation of epithelial cells. Here we show that both total protein citrullination and PAD4 expression levels are significantly associated with cervical cancer progression. Specifically, epithelial immunostaining for PAD4 revealed an increasingly higher histoscore from low-grade (CIN1) to high-grade (CIN2, CIN3) cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, and invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) lesions, raising the attractive possibility that PAD4 may be used as tumor staging markers. Furthermore, taking advantage of the epidermoid cervical cancer cell line CaSki, which harbors multiple copies of the integrated HPV16 genome, we show that the expression of E6 and E7 HPV oncoproteins is impaired by treatment with the pharmacological pan-PAD inhibitor BB-Cl-amidine. Consistently, p53 and p21, two targets of HPV oncoproteins, are upregulated by the PAD inhibitor, which undergoes cell growth arrest and apoptosis. Altogether, these findings highlight a novel mechanism by which hrHPVs alter host regulatory pathways involved in cell cycle and survival to gain viral fitness, raising the possibility that PADs may represent an attractive target for developing novel host-targeting antivirals effective in preventing cervical cancer progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Albano
- Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Matteo Biolatti
- Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Jasenka Mazibrada
- Department of Cellular Pathology, The Cotman Centre Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Selina Pasquero
- Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Francesca Gugliesi
- Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Irene Lo Cigno
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
| | - Federica Calati
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
| | - Greta Bajetto
- Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
- Center for Translational Research on Autoimmune and Allergic Disease-CAAD, Novara, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Riva
- Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Gloria Griffante
- IIGM Foundation – Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine, Turin, Italy
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Turin, Italy
| | - Santo Landolfo
- Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Marisa Gariglio
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
| | - Marco De Andrea
- Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Center for Translational Research on Autoimmune and Allergic Disease-CAAD, Novara, Italy
| | - Valentina Dell’Oste
- Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lo Cigno I, Calati F, Girone C, Borgogna C, Venuti A, Boldorini R, Gariglio M. SIRT1 is an actionable target to restore p53 function in HPV-associated cancer therapy. Br J Cancer 2023; 129:1863-1874. [PMID: 37838812 PMCID: PMC10667542 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02465-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy and anti-cancer action of a precision medicine approach involving a novel SIRT1-dependent pathway that, when disrupted, leads to the restoration of a functional p53 in human papillomavirus (HPV)-transformed cells. METHODS The anticancer potential of inhibiting SIRT1 was evaluated by examining the effects of the specific SIRT1 inhibitor EX527 (also known as Selisistat) or genetic silencing, either individually or in conjunction with standard chemotherapeutic agents, on a range of HPV+ cancer cells and a preclinical mouse model of HPV16-induced cancer. RESULTS We show that SIRT1 inhibition restores a transcriptionally active K382-acetylated p53 in HPV+ but not HPV- cell lines, which in turn promotes G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and inhibits clonogenicity specifically in HPV+ cells. Additionally, EX527 treatment increases the sensitivity of HPV+ cells to sublethal doses of standard genotoxic agents. The enhanced sensitivity to cisplatin as well as p53 restoration were also observed in an in vivo tumorigenicity assay using syngeneic C3.43 cells harbouring an integrated HPV16 genome, injected subcutaneously into C57BL/6J mice. CONCLUSIONS Our findings uncover an essential role of SIRT1 in HPV-driven oncogenesis, which may have direct translational implications for the treatment of this type of cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irene Lo Cigno
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Eastern Piedmont University, Novara, Italy
| | - Federica Calati
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Eastern Piedmont University, Novara, Italy
| | - Carlo Girone
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Eastern Piedmont University, Novara, Italy
| | - Cinzia Borgogna
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Eastern Piedmont University, Novara, Italy
| | - Aldo Venuti
- HPV Unit, UOSD Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Renzo Boldorini
- Pathology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, Eastern Piedmont University, Novara, Italy
| | - Marisa Gariglio
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Eastern Piedmont University, Novara, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Girone C, Calati F, Lo Cigno I, Salvi V, Tassinari V, Schioppa T, Borgogna C, Lospinoso Severini L, Hiscott J, Cerboni C, Soriani A, Bosisio D, Gariglio M. The RIG-I agonist M8 triggers cell death and natural killer cell activation in human papillomavirus-associated cancer and potentiates cisplatin cytotoxicity. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2023; 72:3097-3110. [PMID: 37356050 PMCID: PMC10412503 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03483-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Although the activation of innate immunity to treat a wide variety of cancers is gaining increasing attention, it has been poorly investigated in human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated malignancies. Because these tumors harbor a severely impaired cGAS-STING axis, but they still retain a largely functional RIG-I pathway, another critical mediator of adaptive and innate immune responses, we asked whether RIG-I activation by the 5'ppp-RNA RIG-I agonist M8 would represent a therapeutically viable option to treat HPV+ cancers. Here, we show that M8 transfection of two cervical carcinoma-derived cell lines, CaSki and HeLa, both expressing a functional RIG-I, triggers intrinsic apoptotic cell death, which is significantly reduced in RIG-I KO cells. We also demonstrate that M8 stimulation potentiates cisplatin-mediated cell killing of HPV+ cells in a RIG-I dependent manner. This combination treatment is equally effective in reducing tumor growth in a syngeneic pre-clinical mouse model of HPV16-driven cancer, where enhanced expression of lymphocyte-recruiting chemokines and cytokines correlated with an increased number of activated natural killer (NK) cells in the tumor microenvironment. Consistent with a role of RIG-I signaling in immunogenic cell killing, stimulation of NK cells with conditioned medium from M8-transfected CaSki boosted NK cell proliferation, activation, and migration in a RIG-I-dependent tumor cell-intrinsic manner. Given the highly conserved molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis and genomic features of HPV-driven cancers and the remarkably improved prognosis for HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer, targeting RIG-I may represent an effective immunotherapeutic strategy in this setting, favoring the development of de-escalating strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Girone
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | - Federica Calati
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | - Irene Lo Cigno
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | - Valentina Salvi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Tiziana Schioppa
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Cinzia Borgogna
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | | | - John Hiscott
- Pasteur Institute, Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Cerboni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Pasteur Institute, Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Soriani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Bosisio
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marisa Gariglio
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100, Novara, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Albertini S, Martuscelli L, Borgogna C, Virdi S, Indenbirken D, Lo Cigno I, Griffante G, Calati F, Boldorini R, Fischer N, Gariglio M. Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Exert Proangiogenic Activity in Merkel Cell Carcinoma. J Invest Dermatol 2022; 143:965-976.e15. [PMID: 36572089 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2022.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment is a complex niche enveloping a tumor formed by extracellular matrix, blood vessels, immune cells, and fibroblasts constantly interacting with cancer cells. Although tumor microenvironment is increasingly recognized as a major player in cancer initiation and progression in many tumor types, its involvement in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) pathogenesis is currently unknown. In this study, we provide a molecular and functional characterization of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), the major tumor microenvironment component, in patient-derived xenografts of patients with MCC. We show that subcutaneous coinjection of patient-derived CAFs and human MCC MKL-1 cells into severe combined immunodeficient mice significantly promotes tumor growth and metastasis. These fast-growing xenografts are characterized by areas densely populated with human CAFs, mainly localized around blood vessels. We provide evidence that the growth-promoting activity of MCC-derived CAFs is mediated by the aminopeptidase A/angiotensin II and III/angiotensin II type 1 receptor axis, with the expression of aminopeptidase A in CAFs being a triggering event. Together, our findings point to aminopeptidase A as a potential marker for MCC prognostic stratification and as a candidate for therapeutic intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Albertini
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Novara Medical School, Novara, Italy
| | - Licia Martuscelli
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Novara Medical School, Novara, Italy
| | - Cinzia Borgogna
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Novara Medical School, Novara, Italy
| | - Sanamjeet Virdi
- Technology Platform Next Generation Sequencing, Leibniz Institute for Virology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Daniela Indenbirken
- Technology Platform Next Generation Sequencing, Leibniz Institute for Virology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Irene Lo Cigno
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Novara Medical School, Novara, Italy
| | - Gloria Griffante
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Novara Medical School, Novara, Italy
| | - Federica Calati
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Novara Medical School, Novara, Italy
| | - Renzo Boldorini
- Pathology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, Novara Medical School, Novara, Italy
| | - Nicole Fischer
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marisa Gariglio
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Novara Medical School, Novara, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lo Cigno I, Calati F, Borgogna C, Zevini A, Albertini S, Martuscelli L, De Andrea M, Hiscott J, Landolfo S, Gariglio M. Human Papillomavirus E7 Oncoprotein Subverts Host Innate Immunity via SUV39H1-Mediated Epigenetic Silencing of Immune Sensor Genes. J Virol 2020; 94:e01812-19. [PMID: 31776268 PMCID: PMC6997746 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01812-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Subversion of innate immunity by oncoviruses, such as human papillomavirus (HPV), favors carcinogenesis because the mechanism(s) of viral immune evasion can also hamper cancer immunosurveillance. Previously, we demonstrated that high-risk (hr) HPVs trigger simultaneous epigenetic silencing of multiple effectors of innate immunity to promote viral persistence. Here, we expand on those observations and show that the HPV E7 oncoprotein upregulates the H3K9-specific methyltransferase, whose action shuts down the host innate immune response. Specifically, we demonstrate that SUV39H1 contributes to chromatin repression at the promoter regions of the viral nucleic acid sensors RIG-I and cGAS and the adaptor molecule STING in HPV-transformed cells. Inhibition of SUV39H1 leads to transcriptional activation of these genes, especially RIG-I, followed by increased beta interferon (IFN-β) and IFN-λ1 production after poly(dA·dT) or RIG-I agonist M8 transfection. Collectively, our findings provide new evidence that the E7 oncoprotein plays a central role in dampening host innate immunity and raise the possibility that targeting the downstream effector SUV39H1 or the RIG-I pathway is a viable strategy to treat viral and neoplastic disease.IMPORTANCE High-risk HPVs are major viral human carcinogens responsible for approximately 5% of all human cancers. The growth of HPV-transformed cells depends on the ability of viral oncoproteins to manipulate a variety of cellular circuits, including those involved in innate immunity. Here, we show that one of these strategies relies on E7-mediated transcriptional activation of the chromatin repressor SUV39H1, which then promotes epigenetic silencing of RIG-I, cGAS, and STING genes, thereby shutting down interferon secretion in HPV-transformed cells. Pharmacological or genetic inhibition of SUV39H1 restored the innate response in HPV-transformed cells, mostly through activation of RIG-I signaling. We also show that IFN production upon transfection of poly(dA·dT) or the RIG-I agonist M8 predominantly occurs through RIG-I signaling. Altogether, the reversible nature of the modifications associated with E7-mediated SUV39H1 upregulation provides a rationale for the design of novel anticancer and antiviral therapies targeting these molecules.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irene Lo Cigno
- University of Piemonte Orientale Medical School, Department of Translational Medicine, Molecular Virology Unit, Novara, Italy
| | - Federica Calati
- University of Piemonte Orientale Medical School, Department of Translational Medicine, Molecular Virology Unit, Novara, Italy
| | - Cinzia Borgogna
- University of Piemonte Orientale Medical School, Department of Translational Medicine, Molecular Virology Unit, Novara, Italy
| | | | - Silvia Albertini
- University of Piemonte Orientale Medical School, Department of Translational Medicine, Molecular Virology Unit, Novara, Italy
| | - Licia Martuscelli
- University of Piemonte Orientale Medical School, Department of Translational Medicine, Molecular Virology Unit, Novara, Italy
| | - Marco De Andrea
- Center for Translational Research on Autoimmune and Allergic Disease-CAAD, Novara, Italy
- University of Turin Medical School, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, Viral Pathogenesis Unit, Turin, Italy
| | - John Hiscott
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Santo Landolfo
- University of Turin Medical School, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, Viral Pathogenesis Unit, Turin, Italy
| | - Marisa Gariglio
- University of Piemonte Orientale Medical School, Department of Translational Medicine, Molecular Virology Unit, Novara, Italy
- Center for Translational Research on Autoimmune and Allergic Disease-CAAD, Novara, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Borgogna C, Olivero C, Lanfredini S, Calati F, De Andrea M, Zavattaro E, Savoia P, Trisolini E, Boldorini R, Patel GK, Gariglio M. β-HPV Infection Correlates with Early Stages of Carcinogenesis in Skin Tumors and Patient-Derived Xenografts from a Kidney Transplant Recipient Cohort. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:117. [PMID: 29459852 PMCID: PMC5807414 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Many malignancies that occur in high excess in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) are due to viruses that thrive in the setting of immunosuppression. Keratinocyte carcinoma (KC), the most frequently occurring cancer type in KTR, has been associated with skin infection by human papillomavirus (HPV) from the beta genus. In this report, we extend our previous investigation aimed at identifying the presence of active β-HPV infection in skin tumors from KTRs through detection of viral protein expression. Using a combination of antibodies raised against the E4 and L1 proteins of the β-genotypes, we were able to visualize infection in five tumors [one keratoacanthoma (KA), three actinic keratoses (AKs), and one seborrheic keratoses (SKs)] that were all removed from two patients who had been both transplanted twice, had developed multiple KCs, and presented with a long history of immunosuppression (>30 years). These infected tissues displayed intraepidermal hyperplasia and increased expression of the ΔNp63 protein, which extended into the upper epithelial layers. In addition, using a xenograft model system in nude mice displaying a humanized stromal bed in the site of grafting, we successfully engrafted three AKs, two of which were derived from the aforementioned KTRs and displayed β-HPV infection in the original tumor. Of note, one AK-derived xenograft, along with its ensuing lymph node metastasis, was diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). In the latter, both β-HPV infection and ΔNp63 expression were no longer detectable. Although the overall success rate of engrafting was very low, the results of this study show for the first time that β-HPV+ and ΔNp63+ intraepidermal hyperplasia can indeed progress to an aggressive SCC able to metastasize. Consistent with a series of reports attributing a causative role of β-HPV at early stages of skin carcinogenesis through ΔNp63 induction and increased keratinocytes stemness, here we provide in vivo evidence that these events are also occurring in the affected skin of KTRs. Due to these β-HPV-driven molecular pathways, the nascent tumor cell is able to acquire a high enough number of carcinogenic insults that its proliferation and survival will eventually become independent of viral gene expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Borgogna
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Novara Medical School, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
| | - Carlotta Olivero
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Novara Medical School, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy.,School of Biosciences, European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Simone Lanfredini
- School of Biosciences, European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Federica Calati
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Novara Medical School, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
| | - Marco De Andrea
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Novara Medical School, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy.,Virology Unit, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, Turin Medical School, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Elisa Zavattaro
- Dermatology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, Novara Medical School, Novara, Italy
| | - Paola Savoia
- Dermatology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, Novara Medical School, Novara, Italy
| | - Elena Trisolini
- Pathology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, Novara Medical School, Novara, Italy
| | - Renzo Boldorini
- Pathology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, Novara Medical School, Novara, Italy
| | - Girish K Patel
- School of Biosciences, European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Marisa Gariglio
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Novara Medical School, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Albertini S, Lo Cigno I, Calati F, De Andrea M, Borgogna C, Dell'Oste V, Landolfo S, Gariglio M. HPV18 Persistence Impairs Basal and DNA Ligand-Mediated IFN-β and IFN-λ 1 Production through Transcriptional Repression of Multiple Downstream Effectors of Pattern Recognition Receptor Signaling. J Immunol 2018; 200:2076-2089. [PMID: 29386255 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1701536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Although it is clear that high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) can selectively infect keratinocytes and persist in the host, it still remains to be unequivocally determined whether they can escape antiviral innate immunity by interfering with pattern recognition receptor (PRR) signaling. In this study, we have assessed the innate immune response in monolayer and organotypic raft cultures of NIKS cells harboring multiple copies of episomal HPV18 (NIKSmcHPV18), which fully recapitulates the persistent state of infection. We show for the first time, to our knowledge, that NIKSmcHPV18, as well as HeLa cells (a cervical carcinoma-derived cell line harboring integrated HPV18 DNA), display marked downregulation of several PRRs, as well as other PRR downstream effectors, such as the adaptor protein stimulator of IFN genes and the transcription factors IRF1 and 7. Importantly, we provide evidence that downregulation of stimulator of IFN genes, cyclic GMP-AMP synthase, and retinoic acid-inducible gene I mRNA levels occurs at the transcriptional level through a novel epigenetic silencing mechanism, as documented by the accumulation of repressive heterochromatin markers seen at the promoter region of these genes. Furthermore, stimulation of NIKSmcHPV18 cells with salmon sperm DNA or poly(deoxyadenylic-deoxythymidylic) acid, two potent inducers of PRR signaling, only partially restored PRR protein expression. Accordingly, the production of IFN-β and IFN-λ1 was significantly reduced in comparison with the parental NIKS cells, indicating that HPV18 exerts its immunosuppressive activity through downregulation of PRR signaling. Altogether, our findings indicate that high-risk human papillomaviruses have evolved broad-spectrum mechanisms that allow simultaneous depletion of multiple effectors of the innate immunity network, thereby creating an unreactive cellular milieu suitable for viral persistence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Albertini
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Novara Medical School, Novara 28100, Italy; and
| | - Irene Lo Cigno
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Novara Medical School, Novara 28100, Italy; and
| | - Federica Calati
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Novara Medical School, Novara 28100, Italy; and
| | - Marco De Andrea
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Novara Medical School, Novara 28100, Italy; and.,Viral Pathogenesis Unit, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, Turin Medical School, Turin 10126, Italy
| | - Cinzia Borgogna
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Novara Medical School, Novara 28100, Italy; and
| | - Valentina Dell'Oste
- Viral Pathogenesis Unit, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, Turin Medical School, Turin 10126, Italy
| | - Santo Landolfo
- Viral Pathogenesis Unit, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, Turin Medical School, Turin 10126, Italy
| | - Marisa Gariglio
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Novara Medical School, Novara 28100, Italy; and
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Lanfredini S, Olivero C, Borgogna C, Calati F, Powell K, Davies KJ, De Andrea M, Harries S, Tang HKC, Pfister H, Gariglio M, Patel GK. HPV8 Field Cancerization in a Transgenic Mouse Model Is due to Lrig1+ Keratinocyte Stem Cell Expansion. J Invest Dermatol 2017; 137:2208-2216. [PMID: 28595997 PMCID: PMC5613749 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2017.04.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Revised: 04/25/2017] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
β-Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) cause near ubiquitous latent skin infection within long-lived hair follicle (HF) keratinocyte stem cells. In patients with epidermodysplasia verruciformis, β-HPV viral replication is associated with skin keratosis and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. To determine the role of HF keratinocyte stem cells in β-HPV-induced skin carcinogenesis, we utilized a transgenic mouse model in which the keratin 14 promoter drives expression of the entire HPV8 early region (HPV8tg). HPV8tg mice developed thicker skin in comparison with wild-type littermates consistent with a hyperproliferative epidermis. HF keratinocyte proliferation was evident within the Lrig1+ keratinocyte stem cell population (69 vs. 55%, P < 0.01, n = 7), and not in the CD34+, LGR5+, and LGR6+ keratinocyte stem cell populations. This was associated with a 2.8-fold expansion in Lrig1+ keratinocytes and 3.8-fold increased colony-forming efficiency. Consistent with this, we observed nuclear p63 expression throughout this population and the HF infundibulum and adjoining interfollicular epidermis, associated with a switch from p63 transcriptional activation isoforms to ΔNp63 isoforms in HPV8tg skin. Epidermodysplasia verruciformis keratosis and in some cases actinic keratoses demonstrated similar histology associated with β-HPV reactivation and nuclear p63 expression within the HF infundibulum and perifollicular epidermis. These findings would suggest that β-HPV field cancerization arises from the HF junctional zone and predispose to squamous cell carcinoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simone Lanfredini
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Carlotta Olivero
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Novara Medical School, Novara, Italy
| | - Cinzia Borgogna
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Novara Medical School, Novara, Italy
| | - Federica Calati
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Novara Medical School, Novara, Italy
| | - Kathryn Powell
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Kelli-Jo Davies
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Marco De Andrea
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Novara Medical School, Novara, Italy; Viral Pathogenesis Unit, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, Turin Medical School, Turin, Italy
| | - Sarah Harries
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Hiu Kwan Carolyn Tang
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Herbert Pfister
- Institute of Virology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Marisa Gariglio
- Virology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Novara Medical School, Novara, Italy
| | - Girish K Patel
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
| |
Collapse
|