The E6 and E7 genes of HPV-18 are sufficient for inducing two-stage in vitro transformation of human keratinocytes.
Using a recently described keratinocyte assay, we demonstrate that HPV-18 DNA induces two progressive steps in cellular transformation (a large cell and a small cell stage). Both steps of this keratinocyte transformation can be achieved with a subgenomic fragment containing only the HPV-18 regulatory region and E6/E7 genes. Similar to cell lines transformed by the complete HPV-18 genome, keratinocytes transformed by the HPV-18 E6/E7 genes express the major early viral protein (E7) but are non-tumorigenic in nude mice. Interestingly, HPV-18 DNA was noted to be 5 times more efficient than HPV-16 DNA for in vitro keratinocyte transformation, regardless of the method of DNA transfection.
Barbosa
M S
MS
Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
Schlegel
R
R
D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D014162:Transfection
D004279:DNA, Viral