title: Link between chronic inflammation and human papillomavirus-induced carcinogenesis (Review).
abstract: Inflammation is a defense strategy against invading agents and harmful molecules that is activated immediately following a stimulus, and involves the release of cytokines and chemokines, which activate the innate immune response. These mediators act together to increase blood flow and vascular permeability, facilitating recruitment of effector cells to the site of injury. Following resolution of the injury and removal of the stimulus, inflammation is disabled, but if the stimulus persists, inflammation becomes chronic and is strongly associated with cancer. This is likely to be due to the fact that the inflammation leads to a wound that does not heal, requiring a constant renewal of cells, which increases the risk of neoplastic transformation. Debris from phagocytosis, including the reactive species of oxygen and nitrogen that cause damage to DNA already damaged by the leukotrienes and prostaglandins, has an impact on inflammation and various carcinogenic routes. There is an association between chronic inflammation, persistent infection and cancer, where oncogenic action is mediated by autocrine and paracrine signals, causing changes in somatic cells under the influence of the microbial genome or of epigenetic factors. Among the infectious agents associated with cancer, certain genotypes of human papillomavirus (HPV) stand out. HPV is responsible for virtually all cases of cervical cancer and a lower proportion of cancers of the vagina, vulva, anus, penis and a number of extragenital cancers. In the present review, recent advances in the mechanisms involved in the inflammatory response are presented with their participation in the process of carcinogenesis, emphasizing the role of chronic inflammation in the development of HPV-induced cervical cancer.
authors: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, Brazil.
authors: José Veríssimo
authors: JV
authors: Fernandes
authors: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Rio Grande do Norte State, Mossoró 59607-360, Brazil.
authors: Thales Allyrio Araújo
authors: TA
authors: DE Medeiros Fernandes
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Onofre Lopes, Natal 59072-970, Brazil.
authors: Jenner Chrystian Veríssimo
authors: JC
authors: DE Azevedo
authors: Januário Cicco Maternity School, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, Brazil.
authors: Ricardo Ney Oliveira
authors: RN
authors: Cobucci
authors: Department of Pathology, Potiguar University, Natal 59020-500, Brazil.
authors: Maria Goretti Freire
authors: MG
authors: DE Carvalho
authors: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, Brazil.
authors: Vania Sousa
authors: VS
authors: Andrade
authors: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, Brazil.
authors: Josélio Maria Galvão
authors: JM
authors: DE Araújo
keywords: carcinogenesis; cervical cancer; human papillomavirus; inflammation