Human and primate tumour viruses use PDZ binding as an evolutionarily conserved mechanism of targeting cell polarity regulators

A unique feature of the cancer-causing mucosotropic human papillomaviruses (HPVs) is the ability of their E6 proteins to interact with a number of PDZ domain-containing cellular substrates, including the cell polarity regulators hDlg and hScrib. These interactions are essential for the ability of these viruses to induce malignant progression. Rhesus papillomaviruses (RhPV) are similar to their human counterparts in that they also cause anogenital malignancy in their host, the Rhesus Macaque. However, unlike HPV E6, the RhPV E6 has no PDZ-binding motif. We now show that such a motif is present on the RhPV E7 oncoprotein. This motif specifically confers PDZ-binding activity and directs the interaction of RhPV E7 with the cell polarity regulator Par3, which it targets for proteasome-mediated degradation. These results demonstrate an amazing evolutionary conservation of function between the RhPV and the HPV oncoproteins, where both target proteins of the same cell polarity control network, although through different components and pathways.     

Human Papillomavirus Type 16/18 Oncoproteins: Potential Therapeutic Targets in Non-smoking Associated Lung Cancer

High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) especially HPV-16 and HPV-18 types are speculated to be importantrisk factors in non-smoking associated lung cancer in Asia. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that HPVoncoproteins may contribute to lung tumorigenesis and cell transformation. Importantly, HPV 16/18 E6 and E7oncoproteins can mediate expression of multiple target genes and proteins, such as p53/pRb, VEGF, HIF-1α,cIAP-2, and hTERT, and contribute to cell proliferation, angiogenesis and cell immortalization through differentsignaling pathways in lung cancer. This article provides an overview of experiment data on HPV-associated lungcancer, describes the main targets on which HPV E6/E7 oncoproteins act, and further discusses the potentialsignaling pathways in which HPV E6/E7 oncoproteins are involved. In addition, we also raise questions regardingexisting problems with the study of HPV-associated lung cancer.     

The role of human papillomavirus oncoproteins E6 and E7 in apoptosis

The oncogenic potential of 'high risk' human papillomaviruses can be mainly attributed to two small proteins called E6 and E7. Even these oncoproteins have a low molecular size, they are highly promiscuous and are capable to interact with a whole variety of host cellular regulator proteins to elicit cellular immortalization and ultimately complete malignant transformation. To avoid reiterations in summarizing the biochemical and molecular biological properties of E6/E7 in terms of their influence on cell cycle control, the present review is mainly an attempt to describe some regulatory principles by which human papillomavirus (HPV) oncoproteins can interfere with apoptosis in order to escape immunological surveillance during progression to cervical cancer. The models derived from these basic cellular and molecular studies are relevant to our understanding of HPV-induced carcinogenesis. Conversely, experimental procedures aimed at relieving apoptosis resistance, can facilitate the eradication of immunologically suspicious cells and may prevent the accumulation of cervical intraepithelial cell abnormalities in future prophylactic or therapeutic approaches.     

高危型人乳头瘤病毒癌基因E6和E7调节细胞作用靶点的研究进展

高危型人乳头瘤病毒(human papillomavirus,HPV)的感染与多种人类癌症密切相关,其中最典型的是宫颈癌.高危型HPV最重要的两个病毒癌基因为E6和E7,病毒基因组整合到宿主基因组是病毒癌基因E6和E7实现持续表达的一种方式.HPV癌基因E6和E7能够靶向宿主细胞途径,通过这些相互作用,导致HPV发挥其...     

HPV16-E2 induces prophase arrest and activates the cellular DNA damage response in vitro and in precursor lesions of cervical carcinoma

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and is the precursor to cervical carcinoma. The completion of the HPV productive life cycle depends on the expression of viral proteins which further determines the severity of the cervical neoplasia. Initiation of the viral productive replication requires expression of the E2 viral protein that cooperates with the E1 viral DNA helicase. A decrease in the viral DNA replication ability and increase in the severity of cervical neoplasia is accompanied by simultaneous elevated expression of E6 and E7 oncoproteins. Here we reveal a novel and important role for the HPV16-E2 protein in controlling host cell cycle during malignant transformation. We showed that cells expressing HPV16-E2 in vitro are arrested in prophase alongside activation of a sustained DDR signal. We uncovered evidence that HPV16-E2 protein is present in vivo in cells that express both mitotic and DDR signals specifically in CIN3 lesions, immediate precursors of cancer, suggesting that E2 may be one of the drivers of genomic instability and carcinogenesis in vivo.     

HPV16型-E6、E7在食管鳞癌组织与非癌组织中的表达

背景与目的:越来越多的证据表明高危型人乳头状瘤病毒(humanpapillomavirus,HPV),特别是HPV16型与多种肿瘤发生、发展密切相关。本研究旨在分析人乳头状瘤病毒HPV16型E6、E7在食管正常组织、不典型增生组织和癌组织中的表达,以探讨HPV16型在食管鳞癌发生、发展中的生物学意义。方法:采用PicTureTM免疫组织化学方法对70例食管癌切除标本上、下切缘的正常粘膜上皮组织、43例不典型增生组织以及18例癌组织中的HPV16型E6、E7蛋白表达情况进行研究。结果:E6蛋白阳性率在正常食管粘膜上皮组织中为59.3%,在上皮不典型增生组织中为88.4%,在癌组织中为83.3%;E7蛋白在上述3种组织中的阳性率分别为62.1%、90.7%和88.9%。与正常食管粘膜上皮相比,上皮不典型增生组织和癌组织中E6、E7蛋白表达均有显著性差异(P<0.05)。HPV16型E6、E7蛋白在正常食管粘膜组织中同时表达即同步率为25.7%,而在上皮不典型增生组织和癌组织中二者同步率分别为88.3%和83.3%。结论:HPV16型E6、E7蛋白与食管鳞癌发生、发展密切相关,二者协同作用可能是食管鳞癌发生、发展的重要因素之一。     

Genomic instability and cancer: lessons learned from human papillomaviruses

High-risk HPV E6 and E7 oncoproteins cooperate to subvert critical host cell cycle checkpoint control mechanisms in order to promote viral genome replication. This results not only in aberrant proliferation but also in host cellular changes that can promote genomic instability. The HPV-16 E7 oncoprotein was found to induce centrosome abnormalities thereby disrupting mitotic fidelity and increasing the risk for chromosome missegregation and aneuploidy. In addition, expression of the high-risk HPV E7 oncoprotein stimulates DNA replication stress as a potential source of DNA breakage and structural chromosomal instability. Proliferation of genomically unstable cells is sustained by several mechanisms including the accelerated degradation of claspin by HPV-16 E7 and the degradation of p53 by the high-risk HPV E6 oncoprotein. These results highlight the oncogenic potential of aberrant proliferation and opens new avenues for prevention of malignant progression, not only in HPV-associated cervical cancer but also in non-virally associated malignancies with disrupted cell cycle checkpoint control mechanisms.     

Notch1 can contribute to viral-induced transformation of primary human keratinocytes

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most significant causative agent in the development of cervical cancer. Despite its presence in almost all cervical cancers, HPV by itself is unable to transform a normal cell to a cancerous one. Instead, additional cellular mutations are required to supplement the HPV oncoproteins E6 and E7. Activation of the Notch1 signaling pathway has been proposed as one of the cellular changes that cooperate with the E6 and E7 proteins to cause cervical cancers. This proposition is based on: (a) the detection of active Notch1 in high-grade cervical lesions and cancers; (b) the synergism between Notch1 and E6 and E7 to transform immortalized cells; and (c) the obliteration of neoplastic properties of a cervical cancer cell line when Notch1 expression was inhibited. However, this view was put in doubt by a recent report that showed Notch1 expression is markedly reduced in cervical cancer cells, and this was attributed to the ability of Notch1 to repress the expression of the HPV E6 and E7 proteins. Here we report that although exaggerated levels of Notch1 can, indeed, adversely affect HPV E6 and E7 expression, and cellular proliferation in general, moderate levels of Notch1, together with active phosphoinositide 3 kinase, can, instead, exhibit oncogenic properties that transform primary cells containing HPV16 E6 and E7 proteins. In addition, we show that activated Notch1 is readily detected in all cervical cancer cell lines tested. Together, these results show that not only do cervical cancer cells express Notch1, but also that Notch1 signaling, in synergy with other cellular changes, can participate in the transformation of primary cells expressing E6 and E7 proteins.     

Interactions of the PDZ-protein MAGI-1 with adenovirus E4-ORF1 and high-risk papillomavirus E6 oncoproteins

The oncoproteins of small DNA tumor viruses promote tumorigenesis by complexing with cellular factors intimately involved in the control of cell proliferation. The major oncogenic determinants for human adenovirus type 9 (Ad9) and high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPV) are the E4-ORF1 and E6 proteins, respectively. These seemingly unrelated viral oncoproteins are similar in that their transforming activities in cells depend, in part, on a carboxyl-terminal PDZ domain-binding motif which mediates interactions with the cellular PDZ-protein DLG. Here we demonstrated that both Ad9 E4-ORF1 and high-risk HPV E6 proteins also bind to the DLG-related PDZ-protein MAGI-1. These interactions resulted in MAGI-1 being aberrantly sequestered in the cytoplasm by the Ad9 E4-ORF1 protein or being targeted for degradation by high-risk HPV E6 proteins. Transformation-defective mutant viral proteins, however, were deficient for these activities. Our findings indicate that MAGI-1 is a member of a select group of cellular PDZ proteins targeted by both adenovirus E4-ORF1 and high-risk HPV E6 proteins and, in addition, suggest that the tumorigenic potentials of these viral oncoproteins depend, in part, on an ability to inhibit the function of MAGI-1 in cells.     

Antibodies against oncoproteins E6 and E7 of human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 in patients with head-and-neck squamous-cell carcinoma

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) have been recognized as an essential pathogenic factor in anogenital cancer. HPV DNA has also been found in a subgroup of head-and-neck squamous-cell carcinomas (HNSCCs), and a causative role of the virus in the development of these tumors has been suggested by the concomitant inactivation of the tumor-suppressor protein pRb. Using 4 second-generation ELISAs, we found antibodies against at least 1 of the oncoproteins E6 and E7 of the high-risk HPV types 16 and 18 in 11 of 92 sera (12%) taken from HNSCC patients at or near diagnosis, in 1 of 52 sera (2%) taken from HNSCC patients >6 months after diagnosis and in 10 of 288 sera (3. 5%) taken from sex- and age-matched healthy control individuals of the normal population. In 11 of the 12 seropositive HNSCC cases, antibodies were directed against HPV16 proteins. In patients, the HPV16 antibodies were mostly of high titer, and in 6 cases, antibodies against both HPV16 oncoproteins were present. Seven of the 8 HPV16 antibody-positive sera from the control group were of low titer, and none of the 10 antibody-positive sera reacted with both oncoproteins of the same HPV type. The HPV type of the antigens detected by the antibodies in HNSCC patients correlated well with that of the HPV DNA found in the tumor. Of 19 patients known to have HPV16 DNA-positive tumors, 7 (37%) also had HPV16 E6 and/or E7 antibodies. Our finding suggests that the antibodies were formed in an immune response against HPV E6 and E7 proteins expressed in the HNSCC and thus strongly supports the concept of a biologically active role of HPV in the development of a subgroup of HNSCC.     

Activation of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor mediates cell cycle inhibition and cell death in specific cervical cancer cell lines

High-risk human papilloma virus (HPV) encodes two oncoproteins, E6 and E7, which are vital to viral replication and contribute to the development of cervical cancer. HPV16 E7 can target over 20 cellular proteins, but is best known for inactivating the retinoblastoma (RB) tumor suppressor. RB functions by restraining cells from entering S-phase of the cell cycle, thus preventing aberrant proliferation. While it is well established that HPV16 E7 facilitates the degradation of the RB protein, the ability of the RB pathway to overcome E7 action is less well understood. In this study the RB-pathway was activated via the overexpression of the p16ink4a tumor suppressor or ectopic expression of an active allele of RB (PSM-RB). While p16ink4a had no influence on cell cycle progression, PSM-RB expression was sufficient to induce a cell cycle arrest in both SiHa and HeLa cells, HPV positive cervical cancer cell lines. Strikingly, this arrest led to the downregulation of E2F target gene expression, which was antagonized via enhanced HPV-E7 expression. Since downmodulation of E7 function is associated with chronic growth arrest and senescence, the effect of PSM-RB on proliferation and survival was evaluated. Surprisingly, sustained PSM-RB expression impeded the proliferation of SiHa cells, resulting in both cell cycle inhibition and cell death. From these studies we conclude that active RB expression can sensitize specific cervical cancer cells to cell cycle inhibition and cell death. Thus, targeted therapies involving activation of RB function may be effective in inducing cell death in cervical cancer.     

HPV16 E6 E7 siRNA作用于人宫颈癌细胞株的实验研究

目的: 使用HPV16 E6、E7 siRNA处理表达HPV16阳性的人宫颈鳞癌细胞株CaSki和SiHa,观察其对HPV16 E6、E7原癌基因的特异性抑制作用,为探讨使用siRNA治疗宫颈癌的可行性提供实验基础. 方法: 分别设计并合成靶向于HPV16 E6、E7的siRNA各3条,经脂质体包裹后转染两株细胞,分别采用RT-PCR和Western Blot方法,通过对转染前后各时间段两基因mRNA及蛋白的表达情况的检测,验证RNAi作用的特异性及时效性. 结果: 同对照组相比,各E6、E7 siRNA均可引起靶基因表达水平的显著性下降(P<0.05);而空脂质体组及阴性对照siRNA组的靶基因表达水平则无明显变化.其中E6-1 siRNA和E7-2 siRNA对靶基因抑制作用较强.E6-1 siRNA和E7-2 siRNA转染两株细胞后24h、48h、72h及96h均可观察到靶基因表达的显著性降低(P<0.05),而对相应的非靶基因无明显抑制作用. 结论: 不同序列的E6、E7 siRNA,对靶基因的干扰效率不同;E6、E7 siRNA分别作用于宫颈鳞癌细胞株,均引起了靶基因的特异、高效性的抑制,而时非靶基因的表达无明显变化,且抑制作用至少维持到转染后96h.为进一步研究采用RAN干扰技术进行宫颈癌的生物治疗奠定了基础.     

Biological activities and molecular targets of the human papillomavirus E7 oncoprotein.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) E7 protein is one of only two viral proteins that remain expressed in HPV-associated human cancers. HPV E7 proteins share structural and functional similarities with oncoproteins encoded by other small DNA tumor viruses such as adenovirus E1A and SV40 large tumor antigen. The HPV E7 protein plays an important role in the viral life cycle by subverting the tight link between cellular differentiation and proliferation in normal epithelium, thus allowing the virus to replicate in differentiating epithelial cells that would have normally withdrawn from the cell division cycle. The transforming activities of E7 largely reflect this important function.     

The human papillomavirus E6 protein and its contribution to malignant progression.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 protein is one of three oncoproteins encoded by the virus. It has long been recognized as a potent oncogene and is intimately associated with the events that result in the malignant conversion of virally infected cells. In order to understand the mechanisms by which E6 contributes to the development of human malignancy many laboratories have focused their attention on identifying the cellular proteins with which E6 interacts. In this review we discuss these interactions in the light of their respective contributions to the malignant progression of HPV transformed cells.     

Human papillomavirus type 16 E6 and E7 genotypes in head-and-neck carcinomas

Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) is associated with squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (HNSCC) particularly from the Waldeyer's tonsillar ring. A causal role of HPV16 in carcinogenesis is linked to the activity of the viral oncoproteins E6 and E7 which inactivate the cellular tumor suppressors p53 and pRB, respectively. Lack of E6 expression in HPV16-positive HNSCC has been reported, in some cases caused by disruption of the E6 gene. We have examined the status of the HPV16 E6-E7 gene region in tumor and metastasis samples of 24 HNSCC patients employing genomic PCR. No cases with a disrupted E6-E7 region could be identified. Sequence analysis of the E6-E7 segments revealed three different HPV16 E6-E7 genotypes: the HPV16 prototype (6 of 21 cases), the E6 variant T350G (8 of 21 cases), and the E6-E7 variant A131G/C712A (7 of 21 cases). The E6 variants T350G and A131G have been associated with increased oncogenic potential in cervical cancer patients depending on host genetic factors. Their high prevalence in the HNSCC samples studied indicates that they may be important also in HNSCC development.