title: Mucosal junctions: open doors to HPV and HIV infections?
abstract: Throughout adult life, new developmental commitment of adult stem cells causes reversible epithelial replacements in various mucosal surfaces, including the uterine cervix and the anal canal. Located at the squamocolumnar junctions, these metaplastic conversions are associated with chronic inflammation and deregulated expression of soluble and cell-membrane factors important for antiviral immune response. In this paper, we propose that these histological and immunological features increase the susceptibility of these metaplastic microenvironments to human papillomavirus and human immunodeficiency virus infections. Identification of the anatomical sites and cell populations within the anogenital tract, which is the site primary infected by these viruses, is crucial for the understanding of the pathogenesis of viral disease and development of antiviral strategies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, GIGA-Cancer (Center for Experimental Cancer Research), University of Liege, Liege, Belgium. m.herfs@ulg.ac.be
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herfs
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hubert
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moutschen
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delvenne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D052685:Alphapapillomavirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D011349:Proctitis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000276:immunology; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology