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HPV16 E6*II gene expression in intraepithelial cervical lesions as an indicator of neoplastic grade: a pilot study

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Abstract

Integration of the HPV genome into a host cell DNA leads to the deregulated overexpression of the viral E6 and E7 oncoproteins, and this is a key factor for progression from low-grade cervical lesions to high-grade lesions and invasive cervical cancer. The aim of our study was to analyze the expression levels of HPV E6*I/E6*II and E7 genes in cervical neoplasia of different grades. The analysis involved 10 low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (CIN1), 15 high-grade lesions (CIN2 and CIN3), as well as normal cytology samples (n = 10). HPV genotyping was done using RealLine HPV 16/18 kit. The expression analysis was performed in real-time PCR assay using gene-specific primers and SYBR Green. HPV16 DNA was found in 65.71 % patients, including also normal cytology samples. The increased expression level of E6*I was observed in 12 (34.3 %) patients. The expression of E6*II was increased in 10 (28.6 %) samples, and E7 overexpression was found in 14 (40 %) patients. Significant positive correlation was observed between the amount of HPV16 DNA and the levels of E6*I and E6*II expression. There were no statistically significant differences in expression levels of the studied genes between the groups (CIN1 vs. CIN2/CIN3 vs. normal cytology). Statistically significant differences were found in CIN2/CIN3 group, with the higher expression of E6*II as compared with E6*I. We suggest that the expression level of E6*II gene might be used as an indicator of cervical cancer severity, in patients with high-grade cervical neoplasia, but these observations need to be confirmed in a larger patient cohort.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Bases of Medicine, 1st Chair of Internal Diseases, Medical University of Lodz, Pomorska 251, C5, 92-213, Lodz, Poland

    Dorota Pastuszak-Lewandoska, Monika Migdalska-Sęk, Karolina H. Czarnecka, Ewa Nawrot, Daria Domańska & Ewa Brzeziańska

  2. Department of Surgical Gynecology, Institute of Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital, Rzgowska 281/289, Lodz, Poland

    Anna Bartosińska-Dyc & Krzysztof Szyłło

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  1. Dorota Pastuszak-Lewandoska
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  2. Anna Bartosińska-Dyc
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Correspondence to Ewa Brzeziańska.

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Pastuszak-Lewandoska, D., Bartosińska-Dyc, A., Migdalska-Sęk, M. et al. HPV16 E6*II gene expression in intraepithelial cervical lesions as an indicator of neoplastic grade: a pilot study. Med Oncol 31, 842 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-014-0842-6

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