Telomerase activity in HPV-associated vulvar vestibulitis.
OBJECTIVE
To find a possible correlation between telomerase activity, mean telomere length and human papillomavirus (HPV) presence and type in vulvar vestibulitis.


METHODS
Twenty-two tissues excised during surgery for the treatment of severe vulvar vestibulitis and nine control tissue samples were tested for telomerase activity, mean telomere length, and HPV presence and type.


RESULTS
Thirty-six percent of the tissues from vestibulitis patients were infected with HPV, mainly type 16/18, and none of the control tissue samples showed presence of HPV DNA (P < .02). Telomerase activity was detected in all tissues harboring HPV DNA, whereas only 64% of tissues without HPV DNA exhibited telomerase activity (P < .02). The mean telomere length was unchanged as compared to control samples.


CONCLUSIONS
Telomerase activity in vestibulitis may be increased as a result of HPV infection, suggesting that HPV infection may play a role in the etiology of some cases of vulvar vestibulitis.
Bornstein
J
J
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel. mdjacob@tx.technion.ac.il
Lahat
N
N
Sharon
A
A
Gazawi
H
H
Abramovici
H
H
Rahat
M A
MA
D000328:Adult; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*; D016615:Telomere / Q000502:physiology*; D014847:Vulvitis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*
D004279:DNA, Viral; D019098:Telomerase