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Interferon lambda 1 expression in cervical cells differs between low-risk and high-risk human papillomavirus-positive women

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Abstract

Persistent infection by high-risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) types is a prerequisite for progression to cancer. HR-HPVs may lead to a deregulation of innate immunity by interfering with the epithelial type I interferon (IFN) response, whereas very little is known about type III IFNs, a key component of the mucosal antiviral response. This study reports a first attempt to evaluate the activation of type III IFN genes (IFN lambda 1–3), IFN lambda receptor genes (IFN-lambdaR1 and IL10R2), and IFN-induced genes (MxA, ISG15, ISG56) in HPV-positive and HPV-negative cervical cells from 154 women attending the gynecological unit of a university hospital in Rome. Despite an increased individual variability, a coordinated expression of several IFN lambda-related genes was observed. Furthermore, IFN lambda 1 and IFN-lambdaR1 genes were expressed at higher levels in cervical cells positive to low-risk (LR) HPV compared to HR-HPV and HPV-negative cells. Consistently, ISG15 expression was significantly higher in LR-HPV-infected women than in the other groups. Moreover, IFN lambda 1 expression decreased significantly with abnormal cytological results. This study is the first to show the activation of a type III IFN response in LR-HPV-positive cervical cells and suggests that the lack of this response in HR-HPV infection may be related to lesion progression.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from Sapienza University of Rome “Ricerca Scientifica 2012” to AP.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Virology, Department of Molecular Medicine, ‘Sapienza’ University, Viale di Porta, Tiburtina 28, 00185, Rome, Italy

    Fabiana Cannella, Carolina Scagnolari, Carla Selvaggi, Guido Antonelli & Alessandra Pierangeli

  2. Department of Obstetric and Gynaecological Sciences and Urologic Sciences, Sapienza University, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy

    Patrizia Stentella & Nadia Recine

Authors
  1. Fabiana Cannella
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  2. Carolina Scagnolari
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  3. Carla Selvaggi
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  4. Patrizia Stentella
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  5. Nadia Recine
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  6. Guido Antonelli
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  7. Alessandra Pierangeli
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Correspondence to Alessandra Pierangeli.

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Cannella, F., Scagnolari, C., Selvaggi, C. et al. Interferon lambda 1 expression in cervical cells differs between low-risk and high-risk human papillomavirus-positive women. Med Microbiol Immunol 203, 177–184 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00430-014-0330-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00430-014-0330-9

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