Expression of the HPV18/E6 oncoprotein induces DNA damage

Eur J Histochem. 2017 Jun 15;61(2):2773. doi: 10.4081/ejh.2017.2773.

Abstract

This study investigated possible variations in DNA damage in HeLa cells with silenced expression of the HPV/E6 oncogene compared with HeLa cells with normal expression of the E6 oncogene using the DNA breakage detection–fluorescence in situ hybridization (DBD–FISH) technique and a whole human genome DNA probe. The variable levels of DNA breaks present were measured quantitatively using image analysis after whole-genome DNA hybridization. HeLa cells with silenced expression of the HPV18/E6 oncogene showed a significant decrease in DNA damage compared with parental cells with normal expression of the E6 oncogene. These results were confirmed by alkaline comet assay. In conclusion, we demonstrated a decrease in DNA damage in HeLa clones associated with low expression of the HPV/E6 oncogene. The significance of this decrease regarding the HPV life cycle and carcinogenesis requires further exploration.

MeSH terms

  • Comet Assay
  • DNA Damage / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression*
  • Gene Silencing
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral / genetics*
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral / metabolism*
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • E6 protein, Human papillomavirus type 18
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral

Grants and funding

Funding: this study was supported by Fondo de Investigacion en Salud-IMSS (FIS/ IMSS/PROT/MD13/1247 and Fondo Sectorial de Investigacion en Salud y Seguridad Social SS/IMSS/ISSSTE-CONACYT (293539).