Conservation of HPV-16 E6/E7 ORF sequences in a cervical carcinoma.

A cervical carcinoma that contained human papillomavirus (HPV)-16 homologous DNA was analyzed. Each tumor cell genome contained a single, incomplete copy of HPV-16 DNA. The E6 and E7 open reading frames (ORFs) were completely conserved relative to other published HPV-16 sequences. Much of the non-coding region (NCR) was free of base changes, including complete conservation of several regulatory elements. Multiple mutations were identified in the remaining integrated HPV-16 DNA, which was composed of parts of the L1 and E1 ORFs. The extraordinary conservation of the E6/E7 DNA sequence, as compared with other regions of the integrated HPV-16 DNA, supports the role of E6/E7 in tumorigenesis.     

Antibodies to HPV-16 E6 and E7 proteins as markers for HPV-16-associated invasive cervical cancer.

Transforming proteins E6 and E7 of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are consistently expressed in HPV-associated cervical cancers. In ELISA with four HPV-16 E6-E7 peptides, patients with HPV-16-associated invasive cervical cancer (group 1) had a greater seroreactivity than all other groups, which included patients with HPV-16-associated cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, invasive cervical cancer patients without HPVs, and unaffected controls. A larger proportion of group 1 sera, as compared to sera of all other groups, was reactive with at least one peptide (49% vs 17-27%), and with two or more peptides (22% vs 0-6%). A clear difference between group 1 and all other groups was also found for high ELISA absorbance values to at least one peptide (22% vs 0-8%). This high seroreactivity of group 1 sera was confirmed by a radioimmunoprecipitation assay with in vitro transcribed and translated HPV-16 E7 protein. Sera from 50% of group 1 but only 3% of controls were reactive in this test. Antibodies to HPV-16 E6 and E7 proteins appear to be virus-specific and disease state-specific markers of HPV-associated cervical cancer.     

人乳头瘤病毒16型E＿6E＿7基因反义质粒对人宫颈癌细胞恶性的逆转作用

构建可为地塞米松诱导表达的人乳头瘤病毒１６型（ＨＰＶ－１６）Ｅ＿６Ｅ＿７基因反义质粒（ｐ１６ａｓＥ＿６Ｅ＿７Ｎｅｏ），利用磷酸钙沉淀法将其分别转染到ＨＰＶ－１６阳性的人宫颈癌细胞株Ｃａｓｋｉ和ＨＰＶ阴性的人宫颈癌细胞株Ｃ－３３Ａ中。地塞米松诱导反义质粒表达后，ＣａｓＫｉ细胞失去其恶性表型，而Ｃ－３３Ａ细胞的生长特性及恶性行为未发生变化。说明反义质粒能够改变Ｃａｓｋｉ细胞的恶性表型，且这种改变是通过特异性抑制Ｅ＿６Ｅ＿７基因表达实现的。     

Viral recombinant vaccines to the E6 and E7 antigens of HPV-16

Most cancerous lesions of the uterine cervix are linked to persistent infections with human papillomaviruses (HPV), most notably HPV-16 or -18. Vaccine-induced immune responses to the HPV early antigens E6 and E7, which contribute to cell transformation and are thus expressed in these cervical cancers, could potentially eradicate malignant cells. We generated recombinant vaccines based on E1-deleted adenovirus human strain 5 or on vaccinia virus strain Copenhagen expressing either the E6 or E7 oncoproteins of HPV-16. The different vaccines were compared in two experimental mouse tumor models employing Balb/c or C57Bl/6 mice. Data presented here demonstrate that depending on the model either CD4(+) or CD8(+) T cells provide protection to tumor cell challenge, resulting in striking differences in the efficacy of the four vaccines under investigation.     

Follow-up of antibody responses to human papillomavirus type 16 E7 in patients treated for cervical carcinoma

A synthetic peptide comprising amino acids 6-35 of HPV-16 E7 was used in an ELISA to screen sera taken from 31 cervical carcinoma patients. Sera obtained before and during treatment, and in follow-up, were tested for the presence of antibodies to this peptide. Sixteen patients with negative pretreatment serum determination remained negative during treatment and follow-up. Of the 15 patients with positive pretreatment sera, 12 showed a decrease in anti-E7 6–35 antibody level during treatment. During follow-up an increase in anti-E76–35 antibody level was observed in 6 out of 7 patients with progressive or recurrent disease, whereas all patients who remained in complete remission showed stable or further decreasing antibody levels. During the course of disease of the 15 seropositive patients, serum anti-E76–35 antibody levels were compared with serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) profiles, a clinically useful tumor marker in the management of cervical cancer patients. Similar patterns were observed in 10 out of 15 patients. The results of this study suggest that in a subset of cervical cancer patients, anti-E76–35 antibody response against HPV-16 E7 at least partially depends on the presence of viable tumor lesions, and that to some extent the anti-E7 profile reflects the course of disease. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, inc.     

Immunization with an HPV-16 L1-based chimeric virus-like particle containing HPV-16 E6 and E7 epitopes elicits long-lasting prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy in an HPV-16 tumor mice model

HPV L1-based virus-like particles vaccines (VLPs) efficiently induce temporary prophylactic activity through the induction of neutralizing antibodies; however, VLPs that can provide prophylactic as well as therapeutic properties for longer periods of time are needed. For this purpose, we generated a novel HPV 16 L1-based chimeric virus-like particle (cVLP) produced in plants that contains a string of T-cell epitopes from HPV 16 E6 and E7 fused to its C-terminus. In the present study, we analyzed the persistence of specific IgG antibodies with neutralizing activity induced by immunization with these cVLPs, as well as their therapeutic potential in a tumor model of C57BL/6 mice. We observed that these cVLPs induced persistent IgG antibodies for over 12 months, with reactivity and neutralizing activity for VLPs composed of only the HPV-16 L1 protein. Efficient protection for long periods of time and inhibition of tumor growth induced by TC-1 tumor cells expressing HPV-16 E6/E7 oncoproteins, as well as significant tumor reduction (57 %), were observed in mice immunized with these cVLPs. Finally, we discuss the possibility that chimeric particles of the type described in this work may be the basis for developing HPV prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines with high efficacy.     

Tissue engineered cartilage using human articular chondrocytes immortalized by HPV-16 E6 and E7 genes

Chondrocytes are useful as a cell culture system for studying arthritic degeneration in tissue engineered cartilage. However, primary chondrocytes have short in vitro lifespan and rapid shift of collagen phenotype. In this study, we used a high dosage of retroviral vector LXSN16E6E7 to transduce human primary chondrocytes and obtained an actively proliferating cell line, designated hPi, which expresses HPV-16 E6/E7 mRNA in early passages. Parental primary chondrocytes cease to grow after five passages, whereas hPi could be propagated beyond 100 passages without requiring additional cell elements in defined medium. After 48 passages, hPi can also give many profiles similar to those of parental primary chondrocyte, including type II collagen in mRNA and protein level, aggrecan in mRNA level, lacunae in type I collagen matrices, and morphology with GAG-specific Alcian blue staining. hPi has shown neoplastic transformation, as examined by NOD-SCID mice tumorigenicity assays for 3 months. Our results indicated that human primary chondrocytes could be immortalized by transduction with HPV-16 E6/E7, preserving stable cartilage-specific differentiation markers. The established chondrocyte cell line could provide a novel model to engineer cartilage in vitro and in vivo for cartilage repair research and clinical application.     

DNA vaccines encoding IL-2 linked to HPV-16 E7 antigen generate enhanced E7-specific CTL responses and antitumor activity

DNA vaccination has emerged as a promising strategy for cancer immunotherapy. However, since DNA vaccines have low immunogenicity, various strategies have been developed to enhance the potency of DNA vaccines. In the current study, we aim to determine whether the potency of the DNA vaccine encoding human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) E7 antigen can be enhanced by IL-2. We have generated a DNA vaccine encoding IL-2 linked to HPV-16 E7 antigen. Our results indicate that the DNA vaccine encoding a fusion of IL-2 and E7 proteins generated the highest frequency of E7-specific CD8(+) T cells. We also found that the DNA vaccine encoding a fusion of IL-2 and E7 proteins generated the strongest protective as well as therapeutic anti-tumor effect against E7-expressing tumors. In addition, it was observed that CD8(+) T cells were mainly responsible for the antitumor effect generated by the DNA vaccine encoding a fusion of IL-2 and E7 proteins. Thus, we conclude that the linkage of IL-2 to HPV-16 E7 antigen significantly enhances the DNA vaccine potency against E7-expressing tumors. Our strategy may potentially be used in other antigenic systems to control infectious diseases and/or cancer.     

HPV 16 E6E7基因修饰树突状细胞疫苗诱导CTL致CaSki细胞凋亡体外实验研究

目的:采用人乳头状瘤-16(HPV-16)E6E7重组腺病毒(pAd-E6E7)转染树突状细胞(Dendritic cell,DC),观察基因修饰的DC疫苗诱导细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(Cytotoxic Tlymphocyte,CTL)致使CaSki细胞凋亡的效果。方法:将pAd-E6E7转染体外培养的小鼠未成熟树突状细胞制备DC疫苗,激光共聚焦显微镜观察转染的小鼠未成熟树突状细胞绿色荧光蛋白表达,流式细胞术检测转染前后小鼠树突状细胞表面标志物(CD40、CD86、MHCⅡ和CD11C)。DC疫苗诱导产生特异性细胞毒性T淋巴细胞,与CaSki细胞共培养后,采用DAPI、TUNEL及流式细胞术检测CaSki细胞凋亡情况。结果:pAd-E6E7成功转染体外培养的小鼠未成熟树突状细胞,体外转染效率约为40%～50%,成功制备了HPV16 E6E7基因修饰树突状细胞疫苗,诱导产生细胞毒性T淋巴细胞,经DAPI、TUNEL及流式细胞术检测证明CaSki出现凋亡。结论:以带有HPV16 E6E7基因的重组腺病毒载体转染DC制备基因修饰的DC疫苗,诱导CTL致使CaSki细胞出现凋亡。     

E6/E7 oncoproteins of high risk HPV-16 upregulate MT1-MMP,MMP-2 and MMP-9 and promote the migration of cervical cancer cells

Background: E6 and E7 of high risk human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) were reported to correlate with the cervical cancer (CC). And the presence of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) has also been indicated to be associated with CC. Methods: The present study investigated the expression of MMPs (MT1-MMP, MMP-2 and MMP-9) in CC cells with HPV16-E6/E7 oncoprotein(s) negative or positive, and then determined the regulation of HPV16-E6/E7 oncoproteins on the expression of MMPs (MT1-MMP, MMP-2 and MMP-9) and the migration of cervical cancer Caski and SiHa cells with RNAi technology. Results: It was demonstrated that the overexpression or the knockdown of HPV16-E6/E7 promoted or reduced MT1-MMP, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in CC cells. And the HPV16-E6, -E7 or -E6E7 influenced the migration of CC cells. The overexpression or the knockdown of them promoted or inhibited the migration of C33A or Caski/SiHa cells. Moreover, the chemical inhibition of MMP-2 or MMP-9 significantly reduced the migration of CC Caski or SiHa cells. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that the E6-HPV16 or E7-HPV16 promoted the activity of MMP-2/9, and contributed to the migration of cervical cells.     

Oncogene lineages of human papillomavirus type 16 E6, E7 and E5 in preinvasive and invasive cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)16 accounts for about 60% of the HPV infections in invasive cervical cancer (ICC). There are many sequence variations within HPV16, some of which have been associated with different biological properties, although no definite correlations have yet been established. However, the definition 'variant' has been a source of confusion in research and diagnosis, since it is based on all sequence deviations from a randomly selected prototype. This study has sequenced the HPV16 oncogenes E6, E7 and E5 from 61 Swedish cases with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade III (CIN III) or ICC. Clustering the sequence variations at the three common sites of variation (nucleotide 350 in E6, which has previously been associated with the progression from CIN III to ICC, and nucleotides 3979 and 4042 in E5) resulted in the distinction of three major oncogene lineages encompassing more than 95% of the cases, and two minor oncogene lineages. Simple comparison of the distribution of the individual variations or oncogene lineages between CIN III and ICC showed no significant difference, but the number of variations in addition to the three common ones was significantly higher in ICC. This novel classification scheme, based on the variations in the E6, E7 and E5 region, is considered to be a major improvement over the classical 'prototype-variant' classification, and can help to clarify the interpretation of HPV sequence data in relation to the progression of cervical cancer.     

HPV16/18和HPV16E6/E7DNA在宫颈癌组织中的表达

目的检测HPV16/18和HPV16E6/E7 DNA在宫颈癌组织中的表达,探讨其在宫颈癌发病中的作用.方法应用PCR和琼脂糖凝胶电泳方法检测46例宫颈癌组织中HPV16/18和HPV16E6/E7DNA.结果 46例宫颈癌中56.5%(26/46)扩增HPV16/18 DNA,其中宫颈鳞癌25例,宫颈腺癌1例.正常对照组20例HPV16/18DNA均为阴性,与宫颈癌组相比差异有显著性(P<0.01).HPV16/18 DNA阳性拷贝对数值为4.32±2.45.HPV16E6,E7DNA分别有53.8%(14/26)、46.2%(12/26)扩增.结论 HPV16/18和HPV16E6/E7 DNA与宫颈癌的发生密切相关,是宫颈癌恶性转化的关键之一,预示着宫颈癌有较强的增殖能力和转移能力.     

修饰后中国山东地方株HPV16 E6E7基因的转化活性检测及免疫原性研究

目的 利用突变修饰后消除转化活性并保留抗原性的中国山东地方株人乳头瘤病毒16型（HPV16）E6E7基因，研制HPV16 DNA疫苗。方法 定点突变E6的终止密码，并保证E7读码框架不定；定点突变E7蛋白的Rb结合区中对其转化活性维持起关键作用的第24位氨基酸。突变修饰后的基因命名为fmE6E7。PCR扩增fmE6E7，重组人pLNCX载体，脂质体法转染3T3细胞，免疫荧光组织化学及Western blot检测转染细胞蛋白的表达。经软琼脂集落培养法和BALB／c裸鼠皮下接种法检测fmE6E7的转化活性。然后PCR扩增fmE6E7，构建pVR1012-fmE6E7真核表达质粒，于C57BL／6小鼠肌肉内直接进行裸DNA免疫，^51Cr释放法体外分析免疫鼠的细胞毒性T淋巴细胞活性，间接ELISA法检测免疫鼠血清中E7特异性抗体。结果 测序证实获得了预期的突变结果。pLNCX-fmE6E7转染细胞体外软琼脂培养3周未见集落形成；裸鼠皮下接种2月后未见移植瘤形成（0／3）。免疫鼠获得了较好的E7特异性的抗体E和抗原特异性的CTL。结论 修饰后E6E7基因可融合表达，转化活性消除的同时还可诱发特异的细胞免疫和体液免疫，表明中国山东地方株的E6E7基因可作为HPV16治疗性DNA疫苗的靶基因。     

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific cell-mediated and humoral immune responses in ataxia-telangectasia patients

As a part of studies on cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses of immunocompromised, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected patients who can or cannot restrict the proliferation of EBV-transformed B cells, we have studied 16 Turkish patients with ataxia-telangectasia (AT). Fifteen were EBV seropositive; one was seronegative. Among the seropositives, eight had no or only low anti-EBV-determined nuclear antigen (EBNA) antibody titers, while seven had normal anti-EBNA levels. EBV-seropositive and -seronegative healthy Turkish children were used as controls. We have particularly asked the question whether low EBNA antibody titers can be correlated with the level of EBV-specific and -nonspecific cell-mediated immunity. Non-EBV-specific tests included cell count, phenotypical characterization with monoclonal antibodies, assessment of natural killer (NK)-cell activity, and ability to suppress mitogen-induced immunoglobulin production. Two EBV-specific CMI tests were used: outgrowth inhibition (OI) and leukocyte migration inhibition (LMI). The majority of the patients of the low-EBNA antibody group was IgA deficient and had high levels of -fetoprotein (a-FP). Cells reacting with OKT8 monoclonal antibody predominated in both AT patient groups. In contrast, the suppressor activity was present in only a few patients and NK and interferon-activated killing (IAK) activities were normal. EBV-specific cell-mediated responses were defective in seven of eight patients in the low-anti-EBNA group and five of seven patients in the group with normal anti-EBNA titers. It is concluded that AT patients are often defective in their EBV-specific cell-mediated immune responses and with regard to their EBNA antibody levels. These defects are associated with a predominance of T cells reacting with OKT8 monoclonal antibody.     

Differences in transformation activity between HPV-18 and HPV-16 map to the viral LCR-E6-E7 region.

Homologous, subgenomic fragments of the viral LCR and E6/E7 transforming genes of HPV-18 and HPV-16 were amplified from several primary cervical, penile, and vulvar tumors and cloned into a pUC-18-derived vector. When assayed by a quantitative transformation assay using primary human keratinocytes, the subgenomic regions of HPV-16 and HPV-18 exhibited transforming activities similar to that of the full-length, prototype HPV genomes. More importantly, the HPV-18 LCR-E6-E7 region was approximately 10- to 50-fold more active than that of HPV-16. These studies demonstrate (1) that the transforming activity differences previously observed between prototype HPV-16 and HPV-18 map to the LCR-E6-E7 region, and (2) that individual and independent isolates of HPV-16 and HPV-18 exhibit consistent differences in transforming potential, even when isolated from different anatomic sites.     

Sequence analysis of human papillomavirus type 16 E6E7 gene from cervical carcinoma biopsies of Chinese patients in Shandong province

INTRODUCTION　　Humanpapillomavirustype16(HPV16)hasastrongassociationwithcervicalcarcinoma,Itrepresentsabout50%ofcervicalcancer-associatedHPVinfectionsworldwide.TheexpressionofitsearlyproteinsE6andE7contributestothetrans-formationprocessinvitro.Continuned…