T cell proliferative responses against human papillomavirus type 16 E7 oncoprotein are most prominent in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia patients with a persistent viral infection.
T cell proliferative responses against human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) E7 protein were studied in relation to HPV status over time in 51 women originally diagnosed with abnormal cervical cytology and participating in a follow-up study. HPV-16-positive patients were grouped as having either a persistent, a cleared or a fluctuating HPV-16 infection as determined by PCR in consecutive cervical smears up until the moment of testing. Positive proliferative responses against HPV-16 E7 were found in 15/26 patients with a persistent, cleared or fluctuating HPV-16 infection (57.7%). In contrast, 0/15 patients who had been typed HPV-negative during follow-up showed positive responses (P = 0.0005). Further analysis showed positive responses to be more frequent in patients with persistent HPV-16 infections and stable or progressing cervical lesions (8/9 patients reactive, 88.9%) as compared to patients with cleared or fluctuating HPV-16 infections and stable or regressing cervical lesions (7/17, 41.1%, P = 0.04). The relatively strong T cell proliferative responses against HPV-16 E7 observed in patients with a persistent HPV-16 infection and progressive cervical lesions indicate that the effectivity of such responses cannot be predicted and apparently depends on additional factors.
de Gruijl
T D
TD
Department of Pathology, Free University Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Bontkes
H J
HJ
Stukart
M J
MJ
Walboomers
J M
JM
Remmink
A J
AJ
Verheijen
R H
RH
Helmerhorst
T J
TJ
Meijer
C J
CJ
Scheper
R J
RJ
D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001665:Binding Sites; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D017735:Virus Latency; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C059731:oncogene protein E7, Human papillomavirus type 16