Apicidin down-regulates human papillomavirus type 16 E6 and E7 transcripts and proteins in SiHa cervical cancer cells

Virtually all cervical cancer morbidities are associated with genital skin or mucosa cell infection with human papillomavirus (HPV). The HPV oncogenic proteins E6 and E7 are able to inactivate p53 and Rb proteins, which results in malignant transformation.     

Induction of tumor-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell immunity in cervical cancer patients by a human papillomavirus type 16 E6 and E7 long peptides vaccine.

PURPOSE: The study aims to evaluate the effect of a human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) E6 and E7 synthetic long peptides vaccine on the antigen-specific T-cell response in cervical cancer patients. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Patients with resected HPV16-positive cervical cancer were vaccinated with an overlapping set of long peptides comprising the sequences of the HPV16 E6 and E7 oncoproteins emulsified in Montanide ISA-51. HPV16-specific T-cell immune responses were analyzed by evaluating the magnitude, breadth, type, and polarization by proliferation assays, IFN gamma-ELISPOT, and cytokine production and phenotyped by the T-cell markers CD4, CD8, CD25, and Foxp3. RESULTS: Vaccine-induced T-cell responses against HPV16 E6 and E7 were detected in six of six and five of six patients, respectively. These responses were broad, involved both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, and could be detected up to 12 months after the last vaccination. The vaccine-induced responses were dominated by effector type CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(-) type 1 cytokine IFN gamma-producing T cells but also included the expansion of T cells with a CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: The HPV16 E6 and E7 synthetic long peptides vaccine is highly immunogenic, in that it increases the number and activity of HPV16-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells to a broad array of epitopes in all patients. The expansion of CD4(+) and CD8(+) tumor-specific T cells, both considered to be important in the antitumor response, indicates the immunotherapeutic potential of this vaccine. Notably, part of the vaccine-induced T cells display a CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) phenotype that is frequently associated with regulatory T-cell function, suggesting that strategies to disarm this subset of T cells should be considered as components of immunotherapeutic modalities against HPV-induced cancers.     

DNA vaccines against the human papillomavirus type 16 E6 or E7 oncoproteins

DNA vaccines expressing the E6 or E7 oncoproteins of human papilloma virus type 16 (HPV-16) in either their wild-type form or fused to sequences that affect intracellular trafficking were tested for induction of protective immunity against tumor cell challenge in two models based on BALB/c and C57Bl/6 mice. The DNA vaccines to E7 gave uniformly disappointing results, while the DNA vaccine that expressed E6 linked to a viral leader sequence protected BALB/c mice against tumor cell challenge given before or after vaccination. The efficacy of this vaccine could be enhanced by a DNA vector prime/viral vector boost regimen. In contrast, priming of mice with the DNA vaccines to E7 reduced the efficacy of a viral vector expressing the same antigen.     

Detection of human antibody against the human papillomavirus type 16 E7 protein.

We examined 500 human sera for the presence of antibody against the human papillomavirus type 16 E7 protein by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with bacterially expressed fusion protein lac-E7, and by radioimmunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence assays with the E7 protein expressed in monkey COS-1 cells. The anti-E7 antibody was detectable in 6 out of 54 cases of cervical carcinoma, but in none of the others, including patients with other gynecologic cancers, those with sexually transmitted diseases, and healthy adults. The data indicate that expression of the E7 protein is closely related to cervical carcinoma.     

Vaccination of healthy volunteers with human papillomavirus type 16 L2E7E6 fusion protein induces serum antibody that neutralizes across papillomavirus species

Oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a necessary cause of cervical cancer. Therefore, vaccination to prevent or eliminate HPV infection could reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. A fusion protein comprising HPV16 L2, E6, and E7 is a candidate combination preventive and therapeutic HPV vaccine. The L1- and L2-specific and neutralizing serum antibody titers and peripheral blood mononucleocyte antigen-specific proliferative responses generated by vaccination thrice at monthly intervals with HPV16 L2E7E6 were compared in two studies: a phase I randomized double-blind placebo controlled dose escalation trial in 40 healthy volunteers and a phase II trial of HPV16 L2E7E6 at the maximum dose in 29 women with high-grade anogenital intraepithelial neoplasia (AGIN). Vaccination of healthy volunteers induced L2-specific serum antibodies that were detected 1 month after the final vaccination (P(binomial) < 0.001). There was a significant trend to seroconversion for HPV16 and HPV18 neutralizing antibodies with increasing vaccine dose (P = 0.006 and P = 0.03, respectively). Seroconversion for HPV18 neutralizing antibodies showed a significant positive trend with increasing dose (P = 0.03) and was associated with seroconversion for HPV16 neutralizing antibodies (P(exact) = 0.04). The antigen-specific proliferative response of vaccinated healthy volunteers also showed a significant trend with increasing vaccine dose (P = 0.04). However, AGIN patients responded less effectively to vaccination than healthy patients for induction of HPV16 L2-specific antibody (P < 0.001) and proliferative responses (P < 0.001). Vaccination of healthy volunteers thrice with 533-mug HPV16 L2E7E6 at monthly intervals induced L2-specific serum antibodies that neutralized across papillomavirus species. Responses in AGIN patients were infrequent.     

Pre-clinical immunogenicity and anti-tumour efficacy of a deleted recombinant human papillomavirus type 16 E7 protein

BACKGROUND: Current vaccination strategies against Human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced ano-genital cancers mostly target E7 from HPV16. However, the oncogenic nature of E7 raises potential human safety issues. Although the modifications abrogating the E7 transforming potential have been well characterized, their effect on E7 immunogenicity has been poorly studied. In this study, we evaluated the vaccine potential of an HPV16 E7 protein deleted from the entire pRb-binding motif. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Purified recombinant deleted (E7delta21-26) and wild-type (His6-E7 and E7WT) E7 proteins were studied in pre-clinical mice models. RESULTS: In C57BL/6 mice, E7delta21-26 formulated with the Quil A adjuvant generated systemic E7-specific cytotoxic T-cell and antibody responses similar to those induced following His6-E7/Quil A and E7WT/Quil A vaccinations. E7delta21-26/Quil A injections efficiently protected animals from challenge with the HPV16-expressing tumours, C3 and TC-1. Moreover, therapeutic vaccination with adjuvant-modified E7 suppressed or significantly decreased C3 tumour outgrowth. CONCLUSION: E7delta21-26 could represent a safe and efficient vaccine candidate against E7-containing tumour cells.     

Association of the antibodies against human papillomavirus 16 E4 and E7 proteins with cervical cancer positive for human papillomavirus DNA

Occurrence of the antibodies against human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 proteins E4 and E7 is specifically but independently associated with cervical cancer. To correlate HPV DNA and antibody data, we examined the biopsy specimens and sera, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and by ELISA, respectively, from 51 patients with cervical cancer (including 3 recurrent cases) and 22 with cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia. Consensus primers for the LI region were used for PCR and bacterially expressed, purified fusion protein HPV-16 E4 and non-fusion protein HPV-16 E7 were used for ELISA. HPV-16 DNA and other HPV types were detected in 17 and 25, respectively, out of 51 cases of cervical cancer. Ten out of the 17 HPV- 16-DNA- positives were positive either for anti-E4 or for anti-E7: positivities for anti-E4, for anti-E7, and for both were 6/17, 5/17 and 1/17 respectively. Three anti-E7-positives consisted of those for HPV-33, -52 and -58 DNA, suggesting that limited cross-reaction occurred between the HPV types. Among the HPV- 16-DNA-positive cases of cancer, lymph-node or distant metastasis was recorded more frequently in the seropositives than in the seronegatives. Our results show that the HPV-16 anti-E4 or anti-E7 occurs in some, but not in all, of the HPV-16-DNA-positive cases, and support the hypothesis that the presence of the HPV-16 antibodies can be used as a marker for possible metastasis.     

Critical roles for non-pRb targets of human papillomavirus type 16 E7 in cervical carcinogenesis

High-risk human papillomaviruses (HPV) encode two oncogenes, E6 and E7, expressed in nearly all cervical cancers. In vivo, HPV-16 E7 has been shown to induce multiple phenotypes in the context of transgenic mice, including cervical cancer. E7 is a multifunctional protein known best for its ability to inactivate the tumor suppressor pRb. To determine the importance of pRb inactivation by E7 in cervical cancer, we pursued studies with genetically engineered mice. E7 expression in estrogen-treated murine cervix induced dysplasia and invasive cancers as reported previously, but targeted Rb inactivation in cervical epithelium was not sufficient to induce any cervical dysplasia or neoplasia. Furthermore, E7 induced cervical cancer formation even when the E7-pRb interaction was disrupted by the use of a knock-in mouse carrying an E7-resistant mutant Rb allele. pRb inactivation was necessary but not sufficient for E7 to overcome differentiation-induced or DNA damage-induced cell cycle arrest, and expression patterns of the E2F-responsive genes Mcm7 and cyclin E indicate that other E2F regulators besides pRb are important targets of E7. Together, these data indicate that non-pRb targets of E7 play critical roles in cervical carcinogenesis.     

Antigen-specific immunotherapy for murine lung metastatic tumors expressing human papillomavirus type 16 E7 oncoprotein

An important goal of cancer immunotherapy is to prevent and treat tumor metastasis. We have previously reported a recombinant vaccinia-based vaccine (Sig/E7/LAMP-1) that demonstrated significant anti-tumor effect in a subcutaneous tumor challenge model. In this study, we investigated the potency of the Sig/E7/LAMP-1 vaccine in preventing and treating metastatic tumors. A tumor metastasis model was generated by injecting human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) E6/E7 expressing tumor cells, designated TC-1, into the tail vein of syngeneic C57BL/6 mice. All the naive mice injected with 1 × 10⁶ TC-1 cells developed tumors confined exclusively to the lungs within 1 month. For in vivo tumor prevention experiments, mice were vaccinated with Sig/E7/LAMP-1 followed by tumor challenge. While tumor growth was observed in all of the mice (10/10) in the control groups, 8 of 10 vaccinated mice (80%) remained tumor-free 2 months post-tumor challenge. For in vivo treatment experiments, mice were first inoculated with TC-1 cells and then vaccinated with Sig/E7/LAMP-1. Treatment with Sig/E7/LAMP-1 was effective in eliminating preexisting tumor cells in 4 of 5 vaccinated mice. Most importantly, treatment with Sig/E7/LAMP-1 resulted in regression of fully established lung tumors in 50% (5/10) of vaccinated mice. Our data suggest that the Sig/E7/LAMP-1 vaccine is effective in controlling the hematogenous spread of TC-1 tumor cells. In addition, the TC-1 lung metastasis model can be used to test the efficacy of various E6/E7-specific vaccines and immunotherapeutic strategies. Int. J. Cancer 78:41–45, 1998.© 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The human papillomavirus type 16 E6 and E7 oncoproteins independently induce numerical and structural chromosome instability

The development of genomic instability is a hallmark of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) associated cervical carcinogenesis. We have previously shown that the HPV-16 E7 oncoprotein rapidly subverts mitotic fidelity by inducing abnormal centrosome numbers and multipolar mitotic spindles. Here we report that expression of HPV-16 E6 and E7 independently results in various mitotic abnormalities. HPV-16 E6 and E7 were each associated with unaligned or lagging chromosomal material, indicating relaxation of spindle checkpoint control. Moreover, by overwhelming checkpoint control mechanisms that may prevent cells with multiple spindle poles to enter anaphase, expression of HPV-16 E6 and E7 leads to a small but significant number of cells with altered polarity at later stages of the cell division process. In addition to changes that have the potential to give rise to numerical chromosome imbalances, we discovered that expression of HPV-16 E7 could trigger anaphase bridge formation to an extent similar to that of high-risk HPV E6. Anaphase bridges typically develop after chromosomal breaks and alterations of chromosomal structure. Further investigation of mechanisms by which HPV-16 E6 and E7 contribute to the destabilization of the host cell genome revealed that both high-risk HPV oncoproteins induce DNA damage. Moreover, expression of HPV-16 E7 was associated with an increased number of cells exhibiting nuclear foci of phosphorylated histone H2AX as well as activation of cell cycle checkpoints triggered by DNA repair. Our results therefore suggest that HPV oncoproteins are a source for both numerical and structural chromosome instability during HPV-associated carcinogenesis.     

Identification of novel immunogenic human leukocyte antigen-A 2402-binding epitopes of human papillomavirus type 16 E7 for immunotherapy against human cervical cancer

BACKGROUND:

A study was undertaken to identify new immunogenic human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐A*2402‐restricted epitopes from human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 E7 protein for immunotherapy against cervical cancer.

METHODS:

Synthetic overlapping peptides were screened by measuring the frequency of CD8⁺ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) producing intracellular interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) using flow cytometry and were validated in SiHa cells with a Cr release cytotoxicity assay. In vivo antitumor effects of peptide‐sensitized peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and isolated CD8⁺ CTLs were evaluated using BALB/c nude mice with SiHa cell xenotransplants.

RESULTS:

Among 14 overlapping 15‐amino acid peptides, E7_61‐75(CDSTLRLCVQSTHVD) and E7_67‐81(LCVQSTHVDIRTLED) induced significantly higher IFN‐γ production (P < .05) and showed higher in vitro cytotoxicity against SiHa cells than did cells sensitized with the negative control. To determine the exact HLA‐A*2402‐restricted epitopes, a total of 25 overlapping 9‐ or 10‐amino acid peptides spanning E7_61‐75 and E7_67‐81 were synthesized. E7_61‐69(CDSTLRLCV) and E7_67‐76(LCVQSTHVDI) induced significantly greater IFN‐γ production as well as increased in vitro cytotoxicity against SiHa cells compared with those of other peptides and the negative control (P < .01), and the antitumor effects of these peptide‐sensitized PBMCs were induced by CD8⁺ CTLs. E7_61‐69‐sensitized and E7_67‐76‐sensitized PBMCs and isolated CD8⁺ CTLs showed a much greater suppression of tumor growth in vivo compared with that of control groups treated with PBS (P < .01). The authors also confirmed the synergistic antitumor effect of cisplatin followed by E7_67‐76‐sensitized PBMCs in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS:

E7_61‐69 and E7_67‐76 were identified as novel HPV type 16 E7 epitopes for HLA‐A*2402, which could be used for immunotherapy against cervical cancer. Cancer 2012. © 2011 American Cancer Society.     

The E7 protein from human papillomavirus type 16 enhances keratinocyte migration in an Akt-dependent manner

Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(kip1) (p27) has recently been implicated as a positive regulator of cellular motility and is a marker of poor prognosis in several forms of cancer when localized to the cytoplasm. Cytoplasmic p27 exerts its effect on migration by binding to and inhibiting the activation of the small GTPase and cytoskeletal organizer RhoA, consequentially loosening cell substrate grip and enhancing movement. Using DNA damage as a p27 nuclear import signal, we found that the E7 oncoprotein from human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16), the etiological agent of cervical cancer, enhanced both the cytoplasmic retention of p27 and the migration of human foreskin keratinocytes (HFKs) in a phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt-dependent manner using a standard wound assay. Increased migration in E7-expressing HFKs correlated with an Akt-regulated downregulation of RhoA activity through p27 binding under conditions where a p27 nuclear import signal is given (that is, DNA damage). Under these conditions, inhibition of the downstream RhoA effector ROCK enhanced control cell migration, whereas relatively unaffecting E7-expressing cells, further implicating that the inhibitory effect of E7 on RhoA positively regulates migration. We believe that the E7 protein from HPV-16 can modulate the cytoplasmic localization of p27 and may in turn regulate tumor metastasis/aggressiveness through the PI3K/Akt pathway.     

宫颈癌组织中HPV16E6序列多态性及同源性分析

目的：探讨广东地区宫颈癌组织中HPV16肿瘤相关性抗原E6基因序列的多态性及同源性。方法：采用通用引物PCR直接测序法对宫颈癌标本中的HPV分型，从舍有HPV16型的标本中采用自行设计的多重引物通过巢式PCR扩增出HPV16E6，经DNA序列测定法检测其基因变异，进而分析其同源性。结果：50例宫颈癌组织HPV-DNA的检出率为78％．其中HPV16和HPV18型混合感染18例，单纯HPV16型感染15例。含有HPV16型的标本34例中扩增出HPV16E 625例。其中178位核苷酸变异较大，变异率为72％，其相应氨基酸均由天冬氨酸变为谷氨酸。结论：HPV16E6 DNA序列发生碱基替换的区域主要在氨基端94～241位，羧基端相对保守，未见变异。广东地区宫颈癌组织中HPV16E6的热点突变为Nt178。     

宫颈癌组织中HPV16E6序列多态性及同源性分析

目的探讨广东地区宫颈癌组织中HPV16肿瘤相关性抗原E6基因序列的多态性及同源性。方法采用通用引物PCR直接测序法对宫颈癌标本中的HPV分型,从含有HPV16型的标本中采用自行设计的多重引物通过巢式PCR扩增出HPV16E6,经DNA序列测定法检测其基因变异,进而分析其同源性。结果50例宫颈癌组织HPV-DNA的检出率为78%,其中HPV16和HPV18型混合感染18例,单纯HPV16型感染15例。含有HPV16型的标本34例中扩增出HPV16E625例。其中178位核苷酸变异较大,变异率为72%,其相应氨基酸均由天冬氨酸变为谷氨酸。结论HPV16E6DNA序列发生碱基替换的区域主要在氨基端94~241位,羧基端相对保守,未见变异。广东地区宫颈癌组织中HPV16E6的热点突变为Nt178。     

Induction of uterine cervical neoplasias in mice by human papillomavirus type 16 E6/E7 genes.

We constructed a recombinant retrovirus containing the E6/E7 genes of human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 (ZE67) and examined the morphological changes in the cervicovaginal epithelium induced by inoculation of this virus into the vagina of mice. The ZNeo virus without HPV genes was used as a negative control. Moreover, cotreatment with phorbo-13-myristate-12-acetate or N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and these viruses was carried out. At the end of the observation period (9 months for CD-1 nu/nu and 15 months for C57BL/6J), of 31 CD-1 nude mice treated with ZE67, 7 and 19 had low-grade and high-grade dysplasia, respectively, while 5 of 22 mice treated with ZNeo had low-grade dysplasia (rank sum test, P less than 0.001). Similarly, 4 and 3 of 8 C57BL mice treated with ZE67 had low-grade and high-grade dysplasias, respectively, whereas 3 of the 8 control mice had low-grade dysplasias (P = 0.049). ZE67 plus phorbol-13-myristate-12-acetate and ZE67 plus N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine cotreatments induced cervical cancers in 2 of 13 CD-1 nude mice and 6 of 15 C57BL mice, respectively. On the contrary, none of 6 CD-1 and 2 of 10 C57BL mice had cancer in the control groups (P = 0.0142 for phorbol-13-myristate-12-acetate treatment; P = 0.0173 for N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine treatment). In addition, the existence and expression of HPV 16 E6/E7 genes were detected in the lesions induced by ZE67 but not in the lesions of the control mice by analysis by polymerase chain reaction and mRNA in situ hybridization. The present results suggest that HPV 16 E6/E7 genes induce dysplastic changes but require additional promoting or mutagenic stimulation for the development of cancer.     

Human papillomavirus type 16 E7 oncoprotein causes a delay in repair of DNA damage

Background and purposePatients with human papillomavirus related (HPV+) head and neck cancers (HNCs) demonstrate improved clinical outcomes compared to traditional HPV negative (HPV−) HNC patients. We have recently shown that HPV+ HNC cells are more sensitive to radiation than HPV− HNC cells. However, roles of HPV oncogenes in regulating the response of DNA damage repair remain unknown.Material and methodsUsing immortalized normal oral epithelial cell lines, HPV+ HNC derived cell lines, and HPV16 E7-transgenic mice we assessed the repair of DNA damage using γ-H2AX foci, single and split dose clonogenic survival assays, and immunoblot. The ability of E7 to modulate expression of proteins associated with DNA repair pathways was assessed by immunoblot.ResultsHPV16 E7 increased retention of γ-H2AX nuclear foci and significantly decreased sublethal DNA damage repair. While phospho-ATM, phospho-ATR, Ku70, and Ku80 expressions were not altered by E7, Rad51 was induced by E7. Correspondingly, HPV+ HNC cell lines showed retention of Rad51 after γ-radiation.ConclusionsOur findings provide further understanding as to how HPV16 E7 manipulates cellular DNA damage responses that may underlie its oncogenic potential and influence the altered sensitivity to radiation seen in HPV+ HNC as compared to HPV− HNC.     

Immortalization of normal human embryonic fibroblasts by introduction of either the human papillomavirus type 16 E6 or E7 gene alone

The ability of the human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) E6 or E7 gene to induce immortalization of normal human embryonic fibroblast WHE-7 cells was examined. WHE-7 cells at 9 population doublings (PD) were infected with retrovirus vectors encoding either HPV-16 E6 or E7 alone or both E6 and E7 (E6/E7). One of 4 isolated clones carrying E6 alone became immortal and is currently at >445 PD. Four of 4 isolated clones carrying E7 alone escaped from crisis and are currently at >330 PD. Three of 5 isolated clones carrying E6/E7 were also immortalized and are currently at >268 PD. The immortal clone carrying E6 only and 2 of the 3 immortal clones carrying E6/E7 expressed a high level of E6 protein, and all the immortal clones carrying E7 alone and the other immortal clone carrying E6/E7 expressed a high level of E7 protein when compared to their mortal or precrisis clones. The immortal clones expressing a high level of E6 or E7 protein were positive for telomerase activity or an alternative mechanism of telomere maintenance, respectively, known as ALT (alternative lengthening of telomeres). All the mortal or precrisis clones were negative for both phenotypes. All the immortal clones exhibited abrogation of G1 arrest after DNA damage by X-ray irradiation. The expression of INK4a protein (p16(INK4a)) was undetectable in the E6-infected mortal and immortal clones, whereas Rb protein (pRb) was hyperphosphorylated only in the immortal clone. The p16(INK4a) protein was overexpressed in all the E7-infected immortal clones and their clones in the pre-crisis period as well as all the E6/E7-infected mortal and immortal clones, but the pRb expression was downregulated in all of these clones. These results demonstrate for the first time to our knowledge that HPV-16 E6 or E7 alone can induce immortalization of normal human embryonic fibroblasts. Inactivation of p16(INK4a)/pRb pathways in combination with activation of a telomere maintenance mechanism is suggested to be necessary for immortalization of normal human embryonic fibroblasts by these viral oncogenes. The susceptibility of human cells to immortalization may be related to the state of differentiation of the cells.