Analysis of antibody response to HPV 16 and HPV 18 antigens in Tunisian patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this present study was to use Luminex technology to detect antibodies against the late antigen L1 as well as those directed against the early antigens E6 and E7.


BACKGROUND
Human papillomavirus (HPV) serology is complex because infection and disease lead to distinct type-specific antibody responses.


METHODS
Viral antigens were expressed with pGEX vectors in Escherichia coli and then used in Luminex as coating antigens for antibody detection in 205 human sera samples: 71 cervical cancer cases, 64 cases of cervical inflammation, and 70 controls.


RESULTS
The data showed that 90.14% of sera among the cervical cancer patients had seropositivity toward at least one of the HPV 16 or HPV 18 antigens. Moreover, the percentages of positivity toward E6 and E7 HPV 16 antigens were 44% and 61%, respectively, versus only 21% for the L1 antigen. Among cervical cancer patients, the data showed different distributions in women of different ages. In addition, the intensity of the antibody response was also different for the six antigens analyzed.


CONCLUSIONS
Antibody detection depends on the type of antigen, and is well correlated with international scientific findings. The differences in antibody response between patients with inflammation and patients with cervical cancer were significant.
Achour
Mongia
M
Department of Biology, IMEC Unit, Faculty of Sciences, Zarzouna, Bizerte, Tunisia.
Kahla
Saloua
S
Zeghal
Dorra
D
Kochbati
Lotfi
L
Mongi
Maalej
M
Zouari
Faouzia
F
Oueslati
Ridha
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000276:immunology*; D052161:Human papillomavirus 18 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; C068651:E6 protein, Human papillomavirus type 16; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C063317:L1 protein, Human papillomavirus type 16