Rearrangements of the upstream regulatory region of human papillomavirus type 6 can be found in both Buschke-Löwenstein tumours and in condylomata acuminata.
Clinically malignant Buschke-Löwenstein tumours and benign condylomata acuminata are caused by human papillomaviruses (HPVs), predominantly HPV-6 and -11. In some cases, the HPV-6 genomes found in Buschke-Löwenstein tumours and in verrucous carcinomas differ from HPV-6b isolated from a benign genital wart, by rearrangements of the upstream regulatory region (URR). To evaluate the frequency and role of mutations of the URR of HPV-6 we analysed 42 condylomata acuminata and four Buschke-Löwenstein tumours by the polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme cleavage. Using only four different restriction enzymes we could demonstrate four distinct restriction patterns, indicating that naturally occurring HPV-6 isolates display a high degree of DNA polymorphism within the URR. One Buschke-Löwenstein tumour and two condylomata acuminata yielded rearranged URRs with DNA duplications. All three lesions harboured multiple HPV-6 variants, suggesting that cellular or environmental factors facilitate the development of rearrangements. Therefore, rearrangements of the URR may represent only secondary events in condylomata acuminata and Buschke-Löwenstein tumours which do not necessarily confer a higher malignant potential to the infected cell.
Hautklinik (Department of Dermatology), RWTH-Aachen, Germany.
A
A
Rübben
S
S
Beaudenon
M
M
Favre
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W
Schmitz
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B
Spelten
E I
EI
Grussendorf-Conen
D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology*; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology*; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000235:genetics*
D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides