High-risk HPV E5-induced cell fusion: a critical initiating event in the early stage of HPV-associated cervical cancer.
BACKGROUND
Cervical cancer is strongly associated with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) and viral oncoproteins E5, E6 and E7 can transform cells by various mechanisms. It is proposed that oncogenic virus-induced cell fusion may contribute to oncogenesis if p53 or apoptosis is perturbed simultaneously. Recently, HPV-16 E5 was found to be necessary and sufficient for the formation of tetraploid cells, which are frequently found in precancerous cervical lesions and its formation is strongly associated with HPV state.


OBJECTIVE
We propose that high-risk HPV E5-induced cell fusion is a critical initiating event in the early stage of HPV-associated cervical cancer.


METHODS
Our hypothesis can be tested by comparing the likelihood for colony formation or tumorigenic ability in nude mice between normal HaCaT cells expressing all three oncogenic proteins and E5-induced bi-nucleated HaCaT cells expressing E6 and E7. Moreover, investigating premature chromosome condensation (PCC) in HPV-positive and negative precancerous cervical cells is another way to assess this hypothesis.


CONCLUSIONS
This viewpoint would change our understanding of the mechanisms by which HPV induces cervical cancer. According to this hypothesis, blocking E5-induced cell fusion is a promising way to prevent the progression of cervical cancer. Additionally, establishment of a role of cell fusion in cervical carcinogenesis is of reference value for understanding the pathogenesis of other virus-associated cancers.
Gao
Peng
P
Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Medical Science, Southeast University, Dingjiaqiao Road, Nanjing 210009, PR China. gp_yaya@163.com
Zheng
Jie
J
D000818:Animals; D002459:Cell Fusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000378:metabolism*; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*
D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral