A combined assay of hTERT and E6 oncoprotein to identify virus-infected keratinocytes with higher telomerase activity in human papillomaviruses 16 and 18-related bowenoid papulosis.
In the present study, we aim to evaluate the application potential of a combined assay of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and E6 oncoprotein in screening the virus-infected keratinocytes with higher telomerase activity in human papillomaviruses (HPV) 16- and 18-related bowenoid papulosis (BP). HPV16/18 DNA in BP (n = 123) was identified by in situ hybridization, the expression of hTERT and E6 in HPV16/18-related BP (n = 68) was determined by immunohistochemistry. We demonstrated that the expression of hTERT correlated well with that of E6 oncoprotein in HPV16/18-related BP lesions (Spearman rho = 0.868, P < 0.01). Furthermore, the majority of keratinocytes with positive nuclear staining for hTERT or E6 in the consecutive sections of each HPV16/18-related BP lesion showed nuclear paleomorphism or nuclear mitosis. In conclusion, we suggested that a combined assay of hTERT and E6 oncoprotein can be used to screen the HPV-infected keratinocytes with higher telomerase activity in HPV16-related and HPV18-related BP lesions.
Department of Dermatology, Clinical Center for Infectious Skin Diseases, No.1 Hospital of Wuhan, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
Dongsheng
D
Li
Bilin
B
Dong
Zhimin
Z
Hu
Liuqing
L
Chen
Xianyu
X
Zeng
Jinbo
J
Chen
Yiqun
Y
Duan
D001913:Bowen's Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000821:virology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000821:virology; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D017444:Skin Diseases, Papulosquamous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000821:virology; D019098:Telomerase / Q000032:analysis*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C068651:E6 protein, Human papillomavirus type 16; C052603:E6 protein, Human papillomavirus type 18; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D019098:Telomerase