title: Serological relationship between cutaneous human papillomavirus types 5, 8 and 92.
abstract: Evidence of a possible association of cutaneous human papillomavirus (HPV) types, especially members of the genus Betapapillomavirus, and the development of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is accumulating. Vaccination with virus-like particles (VLPs) consisting of self-assembled L1, the major capsid protein, has been introduced to control anogenital HPV infection. This study examined the serological relationship between betapapillomavirus (beta-PV) types 5 and 8 and the new type HPV-92, which has recently been isolated from a basal cell carcinoma containing a high number of viral genomes. Following expression by recombinant baculoviruses, the L1 protein of HPV-92 self-assembled into VLPs that elicited high-titre antibodies after immunization, similar to VLPs from HPV-5 and -8. Haemagglutination inhibition (HAI) assays were used as a surrogate method for the detection of virion-neutralizing antibodies, which correlates with protection from infection. Antisera raised against HPV-5 and -8 VLPs displayed HAI activity not only against the homologous type, but also against heterologous HPV types 5, 8 and 92, whereas HAI activity of antisera against HPV-92 VLP was restricted to the homologous type. The results of neutralization assays using HPV-5 pseudovirions were consistent with those from HAI assays. Cross-neutralizing immune responses by VLP vaccination against heterologous HPV types may provide broader protection against the multiplicity of HPV types detected in NMSC. If a close link to HPV infection can be conclusively established, these results may provide a basis for further evaluation of VLPs of beta-PVs as candidates for a prophylactic skin-type HPV vaccine, aimed at reducing the incidence of NMSC.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Viral Oncology, Division of Immunology, Allergy and Infectious Diseases (DIAID), Department of Dermatology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Handisurya
authors.forename: Ratish
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gambhira
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schellenbacher
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shafti-Keramat
authors.forename: Ola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Forslund
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Favre
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kirnbauer
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D052686:Betapapillomavirus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006801:Humans; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D022701:Virosomes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; C114580:HPV L1 protein, Human papillomavirus; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D022701:Virosomes