High prevalence of human papillomavirus and European variants of HPV 16 infecting concomitantly to cervix and oral cavity in HIV positive women

PLoS One. 2020 Apr 22;15(4):e0227900. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227900. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Objective: Identify the prevalence of HPV infections in the uterine cervix and oral cavity and HPV16 variants in HIV+ women.

Methods: A total of 174 HIV+ women attended an HIV+ specialized clinic in Mexico City. Cells were obtained from the oral cavity and cervix to extract DNA. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify the HPV sequence with generic primers. We detected specific HPV types using the INNO-LiPA HPV Genotyping Extra II Kit (INNOGENETICS). The identification of variants was studied by sequencing the E6 gene with a Big Dye Terminator Kit and an Applied Biosystems 3500/3500xL genetic analyzer.

Results: HPV infection was very high in the uterine cervix (168/174, 96.6%) and oral cavity (161/174, 92.5%). The prevalence of HPV concurrent infections in the cervix and oral cavity was 155/174 (89.1%). We found hrHPVs to be more prevalent than low-risk HPVs (lrHPVs) in the oral cavity (90.2% versus 45.4%) and that infections simultaneously affected the cervix (94.3% versus 36.2%) and oral cavity (85.1% versus 20.1%). Surprisingly, only European variants of HPV type 16 were found in the uterine cervix of women and the oral cavity of all tested samples (52 oral cavity samples and 52 uterine cervix samples).

Conclusions: The high prevalence of HPV, multiple infections and presence of the EP350G intravariant in both anatomical regions are strongly related to the persistence of the virus, which is fundamental for the development of cancer. Therefore, it is very important to control and monitor this high-risk population as well as implement programs for the early detection of HPV and vaccination.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Cervix Uteri / virology
  • DNA, Viral / isolation & purification
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • Human papillomavirus 16 / genetics
  • Human papillomavirus 16 / immunology*
  • Human papillomavirus 16 / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Mexico / epidemiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Mouth / virology
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral / genetics
  • Papillomavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Papillomavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / transmission
  • Papillomavirus Infections / virology
  • Prevalence
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Risk Factors
  • Sexual Behavior / statistics & numerical data
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / virology

Substances

  • DNA, Viral
  • E6 protein, Human papillomavirus type 16
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral
  • Repressor Proteins

Grants and funding

We acknowledge the Programa de Apoyo a Proyectos de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica, de la Dirección General de Apoyo a Personal Académico de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (PAPIIT-IN213016; Genómica de Virus de Papiloma Humano tipo 16 en México: Nuevas implicaciones biológicas, to AGC) and from División de Investigación Básica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Secretaría de Salud. We thank the Colposcopy and Gynecology Oncology Service at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Secretaria de Salud. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.