Persistence of human papillomavirus infection: keys to malignant progression.
Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are the etiologic agents of cervical and other epithelial cancers. Persistence of infections by high-risk HPV types is the single greatest risk factor for malignant progression. Although prophylactic vaccines have been developed that target high-risk HPV types, there is a continuing need to understand better the virus-host interactions that underlie persistent benign infection and progression to cancer. In this review we summarize the molecular events that facilitate the differentiation-dependent HPV life cycle, how the life cycle is organized to facilitate virus persistence, and how the activities of HPV regulatory proteins result in malignancy.
Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 E. Chicago Ave, Morton 6-693, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
Jason
J
Bodily
Laimonis A
LA
Laimins
D052685:Alphapapillomavirus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology
D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral