[Interferon-alpha controls HPV infection in cervix epithelium].
Decreased immune response is necessary for a prolonged HPV-infection and allows HPV to be virulent as an oncogene. This study shows that HPV-infection in cervical epithelium is determined by the immune system and IFN-alpha can be shown to be a prognostic parameter for the HPV-infection. The cytokines (IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha) from stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were measured using monoclonal IFN-antibodies and ELISA test. To detect HPV-16, PCR (e6 and e7 areas) was used, followed by southern-blot of the PCR-products. In all of our patients (n = 139) no cytological change was observed in the cervical epithelium over a period of 3 years. Comparison was made between 3 groups: 1: controls (n = 89, HPV-pos. n = 6) 2: registered prostitutes without drug abuse (n = 30, HPV-pos. n = 6) and 3: HIV-infected, previous drug users (CDC II, n = 20, HPV-pos. n = 2).


RESULTS
The stimulated IFN-alpha values are highest in the control collective (169 +/- 35 U/ml) and are significantly lower in the prostitutes (98 +/- 26 U/ml, p < 0.05) and in the HIV-infected group (49 +/- 15 U/ml, p < 0.01). The difference between the latter groups being significant as well (p < 0.05). Dividing the controls into HPV-16 positive and HPV-16 negative subgroups, the IFN-alpha values are significantly higher in HPV-16 negative group (193 +/- 48 U/ml) compared to HPV-16 positive group (38 +/- 3 U/ml, p < 0.05). Also in the collective of prostitutes and HIV infected patients there is a similar significant difference between the HPV-16 positive and HPV-16 negative patients (Prostitutes: HPV-16 negative = 94 +/- 21 U/ml, HPV-16 positive = 36 +/- 7 U/ml, p < 0.05; HIV-infected: HPV-16 negative = 35 +/- 13 U/ml, HPV-16 positive = 13 +/- 3 U/ml).
Universitätsfrauenklinik Mannheim.
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Labeit
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Labeit
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Berger
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Gallati
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Rosenberg
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Friese
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000097:blood*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000097:blood*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D011477:Sex Work; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma
Interferon-alpha kontrolliert die HPV-Infektion im Zervixepithel.