title: High prevalence of BK polyomavirus sequences in human papillomavirus-16-positive precancerous cervical lesions.
abstract: High- and low-grade cervical lesions were analyzed for the presence of polyomavirus (PYV) and human papillomavirus (HPV) sequences. In precancerous cervical lesions, the overall prevalence of PYV sequences was 44% (41/93). Specifically, among the PYV-positive samples, 83% (34/41) tested positive for BK polyomavirus (BKV) sequences, whereas 17% (7/41) were positive for JC-virus. None of the samples were positive for simian virus 40. The presence of BKV DNA in high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions was confirmed by in situ PCR. BKV sequences were detected more frequently in high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, together with the genotype HPV-16. The association of BKV with precancerous cervical lesions suggests that this polyomavirus participates with HPV-16 in the cell transformation process. Alternatively, BKV might multiply better in HPV-16-positive cells from precancerous cervical lesions than in HPV-16-negative cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, and Hygiene and Preventive Medicine Unit, Department of Medical Science, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy, Italy.
authors.forename: Manola
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Comar
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bonifacio
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zanconati
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Napoli
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Isidoro
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Torelli
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tognon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001739:BK Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D052161:Human papillomavirus 18 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D058952:Human papillomavirus 31 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007577:JC Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008875:Middle Aged; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000821:virology*; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002577:Uterine Cervical Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral