A non-variable L1-peptide displays high sensitivity and specificity for detecting women having human papillomavirus-associated cervical lesions

Peptides. 2008 Jun;29(6):957-62. doi: 10.1016/j.peptides.2008.01.003. Epub 2008 Jan 17.

Abstract

Anti-human papillomavirus (HPV) antibody detection is promising technique for detecting women at risk of suffering cervical cancer, since potentially oncogenic, persistent, long-term HPV-infections elicit an antibody response which is rarely detected in transitory HPV-infection patients. We have identified a non-variable C-terminus L1-peptide, belonging to an alpha-helix surface exposed on L1-protein, specifically recognized by antibodies from HPV-associated cervical lesion patients. This peptide tested against 313 sera presented higher reactivity with antibodies from cervical cancer (OD mean 0.43+/-0.13) or cervical lesion patients (OD mean 0.41+/-0.17) than antibodies from normal cytology patients (OD mean 0.17+/-0.03). High-risk HPV-infected patients presented higher antibody reactivity (OD mean 0.36+/-0.17) than high-risk HPV-non-infected patients (OD mean 0.22+/-0.11). This peptide showed 88.36% sensitivity, 99.39% specificity and 94.21% correct classification of high risk-HPV cervical lesion or cervical cancer patients. This peptide should be taken into account for designing serological screening or diagnostic tests for use in a clinical scenario.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / chemistry
  • Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / immunology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral
  • Papillomaviridae / classification
  • Papillomaviridae / genetics
  • Papillomaviridae / immunology*
  • ROC Curve
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Risk Factors
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Serologic Tests / methods
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / blood
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / virology

Substances

  • E6 protein, Human papillomavirus type 16
  • Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral
  • Repressor Proteins