title: Trophoblasts are the preferential target for human papilloma virus infection in spontaneously aborted products of conception.
abstract: In a recent study it has been shown that human papillomavirus (HPV) infection was threefold more prevalent in spontaneous abortion specimens compared with elective specimens (60% [15 of 25] v 20% [3 of 15], respectively) as analyzed by broad-spectrum HPV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and dot-blot hybridization with an HPV-16 probe. In this study, archival paraffin-embedded tissue from a subset of previously analyzed spontaneous abortion cases were reanalyzed by in situ PCR amplification so that the specific cells infected by HPV could be identified. In the current study, using a new PCR primer set for HPV-16 E6, the status of six previously analyzed cases were verified (five HPV-positive and one negative). Furthermore, syncytiotrophoblasts were identified as the predominant cellular target of HPV (HPV-16 or a related type). Finally, four of four third-trimester placentas similarly analyzed gave no HPV-positive signal. Trophoblasts are the cell type that maintains placental contact with maternal tissue and through which nutrient exchange occurs. This knowledge prompts the hypothesis that HPV-infected trophoblasts may have altered characteristics, which may lead to a compromised gestation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock 72205, USA.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Hermonat
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kechelava
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lowery
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Korourian
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral; C068651:E6 protein, Human papillomavirus type 16; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D012097:Repressor Proteins