Abstract
AIM: To explore the etiologic role of HPV infection in esophageal carcinoma, and the association of HPV-16 E6 with the nuclear matrix of carcinoma cells.
METHODS: Two esophageal carcinoma cell lines, EC/CUHK1 and EC/CUHK2, were tested for HPV-16 E6 subgenetic fragment by polymer a se chain reaction amplification of virus DNA associated nuclear matrix. RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry were also used to visualize the expression of E6 subgene in the cells.
RESULTS: The HPV-16 E6 subgenetic fragment was found to be present in nuclear matrix-associated DNA, E6 oncoprotein localized in the nucleus where it is tightly associated with nuclear matrix after sequential extraction in EC/CUHK2 cells. It was not detected, however, in EC/CUHK1 cells.
CONCLUSION: The interaction between HPV-16 E6 and nuclear matrix may contribute to the virus induced carcinogenesis in esophageal carcinoma.
Collapse