Serological study in Tunisian cervical cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to use a novel ELISA, based on five recombinant HPV-16 and HPV-18 proteins, for detection HPV-specific antibodies in a case-control study.


METHODS
L1, E6 and E7 genes have been over expressed in Escherichia coli as double fused proteins. These recombinant proteins were used in a GST-capture ELISA as coating antigens. Human sera were collected from women with cervical cancer. Negative human sera were collected from patients apparently healthy and may be affected by other infectious agents.


RESULTS
Most of the sera showed a positive reactivity to at least one of the HPV-16 or HPV-18 proteins (52/71). A percentage of 39.50% of the sera from HPV-16 infected women and 21.12% of the sera from women infected by HPV-18 genotype recognised at least one of the HPV-16 or HPV-18 proteins. Sera showed different reactivity to L1, E6 and E7 antigens, and only a few serum samples reacted to L1, E6 and E7 HPV-16, E6 and E7 HPV-18 (co-infection). Differences of reactivity between cases and controls were significant (P<0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
This novel ELISA, based on recombinant HPV-16 and HPV-18 antigens, is able to detect antibodies in women infected by HPV genotypes. The assay is easy to perform and has low cost, making it suitable for monitoring the natural history of HPV infections as well as for detecting pre-existing HPV antibodies in women who receive vaccination.
Achour
M
M
Laboratory of Immuno-Microbiology, Unit of Environmental Immuno-Microbiology and Cancerogenesis (IMEC), Faculty of Sciences, Bizerta, 7021 Zarzouna, Tunisia. mahaachour2000@yahoo.fr
Kochbati
L
L
Zeghal
D
D
Kahla
S
S
Maalej
M
M
Zouari
F
F
Oueslati
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D052161:Human papillomavirus 18 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C068651:E6 protein, Human papillomavirus type 16; C052603:E6 protein, Human papillomavirus type 18; C052633:E7 protein, Human papillomavirus type 18; C114580:HPV L1 protein, Human papillomavirus; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C059731:oncogene protein E7, Human papillomavirus type 16