RNA splicing factors regulated by HPV16 during cervical tumour progression

J Pathol. 2009 Nov;219(3):383-91. doi: 10.1002/path.2608.

Abstract

The most prevalent human papillomaviruses (HPVs) causing cervical disease are the 'high-risk' HPV types 16 and 18. All papillomaviruses express a transcription factor, E2, that can regulate viral and cellular gene expression. Recently, we demonstrated high-risk HPV E2-mediated transcriptional transactivation of SF2/ASF. This essential oncoprotein is a key member of a family of proteins, the SR proteins, that regulate constitutive and alternative splicing. Tight control of RNA splicing is necessary for the production of wild-type proteins. So, aberrant expression of SR proteins is involved in the aetiology of a range of human diseases, including cancer. Here we demonstrate epithelial differentiation-specific control of SF2/ASF in HPV16-infected keratinocytes in organotypic raft culture and in low-grade cervical lesions (CIN1). Further, we demonstrate HPV16 infection/differentiation-induced up-regulation of a specific subset of SR proteins and present evidence that HPV16 E2 controls expression of SRp20, SC35 and SRp75. Using a series of cell lines that model cervical tumour progression, we show that SF2/ASF, SRp20 and SC35 are specifically up-regulated in a model of cervical tumour progression. These SR proteins are also over-expressed in high-grade cervical lesions, indicating that they may all have oncogenic functions. SR proteins could be useful biomarkers for HPV-associated disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Viral
  • Human papillomavirus 16 / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Papillomavirus Infections / complications*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / virology
  • RNA Splicing / genetics*
  • RNA, Neoplasm / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Up-Regulation
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / virology*

Substances

  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • RNA, Neoplasm
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors