[Semi-quantitative detection of HPV L1 capsid protein in exfoliative cytological examination facilitates the differential diagnosis of cervical lesions].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association of human papilloma virus (HPV) L1 capsid protein expression levels with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and its clinical significance.


METHODS
Immunohistochemistry were performed to detect the expression of HPV L1 capsid protein in the cervical exfoliative cytological examination of 153 cases. The intensity (positive unit, PU) was assessed semi-quantitatively using ImagePro Plus image analysis software. The results were evaluated based on histopathologic diagnosis of cervical biopsy.


RESULTS
PU of HPV L1 capsid protein in different cytopathological groups, including normal/inflammation, atypical squamous cells of unknown significance (ASCUS), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), was 46.87±24.46, 27.23±24.30, 24.10±22.45, 9.36±19.82, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01). PU of HPV L1 capsid protein in different histopathological groups, including normal cervixes or chronic cervicitis, LSIL and HSIL, was 41.30±26.66, 24.84±22.18, 8.69±19.20, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01). Patients with high-risk HPV16 and HPV18 had significantly lower PU of HPV L1 capsid protein than those with other high-risk HPV (P<0.01). PU of HPV L1 capsid protein were correlated negatively with both cytopathological groups and histopathological groups of cervical diseases (r=-0.458, P<0.01 and r=-0.441, P<0.01, respectively). PU of HPV L1 capsid protein was not associated with patients' age (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Semi-quantitative analysis of HPV L1 capsid protein expression can directly reflect the precancerous progression of cervical cancer.
Department of Pathology, Zhengzhou People's Hospital, Southern Medical University, Zhengzhou 450000, China.
Xiaoyan
X
Xu
Department of Pathology, Zhengzhou People's Hospital, Southern Medical University, Zhengzhou 450000, China.
Jinhua
J
Yang
Huiqiao Division, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 475000, China.
Ni
N
Lin
Department of Pathology, Zhengzhou People's Hospital, Southern Medical University, Zhengzhou 450000, China.
Guangying
G
Yang
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000821:virology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*
D036022:Capsid Proteins; C114580:HPV L1 protein, Human papillomavirus; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral