title: HPV-transgenic mouse models: Tools for studying the cancer-associated immune response.
abstract: For decades, research on the pathogenesis of papillomavirus-induced lesions, particularly of human papillomavirus (HPV) has relied on the use of animal models. Among these, HPV-transgenic mice are some of the most frequently employed. After some initial unsuccessful attempts, researchers have succeeded in targeting the expression of one or more HPV-16 oncogenes to squamous epithelia, closely mimicking the lesions observed in cancer patients. The present review describes the relevance and usefulness of these animal models in understanding the tumour-associated immune response and developing new preventive and therapeutic strategies for HPV-associated cancers. In particular, this review details the importance of transgenic mice for dissecting and modulating relevant aspects of the tumour-associated immune response. Other animal models for studying papillomaviral diseases are briefly mentioned, along with their respective advantages and limitations. HPV-transgenic mouse strains remain reliable, versatile and commodious, even if perhaps underestimated, animal models for studying HPV-induced multi-step carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: ICBAS, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: carlos.e.santos792@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: ICBAS, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; I3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vilanova
authors.affiliation: ICBAS, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; Grupo de Oncologia Molecular e Patologia Viral, CI-IPOP, Instituto Português de Oncologia do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; Serviço de Virologia, Instituto Português de Oncologia do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro-Núcleo Regional do Norte, Estrada Interior da Circunvalação, no. 6657, 4200-177 Porto, Portugal; CEBIMED, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Oncologia Molecular e Patologia Viral, CI-IPOP, Instituto Português de Oncologia do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; LEPABE, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rui M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gil da Costa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics*
keywords: Carcinogenesis; Human papillomavirus; Immune response; Transgenic mouse models