Abstract
BackgroundAmong different types of human papillomavirus (HPV), types 16 and 18 were known to be high-risk agents causing mainly cervical cancer. Up to now, the potential of HPV E7 protein has been proved as a diagnostic marker of cervical cancer. Moreover, the levels of anti-heat shock protein (Hsp) and anti-high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) antibodies in cancer patients have been useful in tumor diagnosis. The goal of the present study was to determine the efficiency of the potential serologic markers including HPV E7, Hsp20, Hsp27 proteins and Hp91 peptide in Iranian HPV-exposed women, for the first time.MethodsAt first, the recombinant HPV E7, Hsp20 and Hsp27 proteins were expressed in E. coli system, and purified by affinity chromatography under native conditions. Then, antibody responses were detected against the recombinant proteins as well as Hp91 peptide as potential markers in 49 Iranian women who were seropositive for HPV-16 and 18 L1 capsids (i.e., HPV-exposed women) and 49 controls using indirect ELISA.ResultsOur data indicated that the seroreactivities of women exposed to HPV16, HPV18 and both of them against the recombinant E7, Hsp20, Hsp27 proteins and Hp91 peptide were significantly higher than those in control group (p < 0.05 for HPV16 or HPV18; p < 0.01 for both of them versus all markers). HPV-exposed women with high antibody responses to HPV-16 and 18 L1 capsids as a commercial biomarker had significant seroreactivity to HPV-16 and 18 E7 and Hsp27 (p < 0.05). The recombinant E7 and Hsp27 proteins showed higher efficiency than Hsp20 and Hp91 for detection of individuals exposed to HPV infections (p < 0.05).ConclusionGenerally, the levels of serum E7 and Hsp27 were increased in HPV-16 and 18 L1- seropositive women suggesting their potential value as a diagnostic marker for HPV infections.
Highlights
Among different types of human papillomavirus (HPV), types 16 and 18 were known to be high-risk agents causing mainly cervical cancer
After production of the recombinant proteins, the seroreactivities of Iranian women who were seropositive for HPV-16 and 18 L1 capsids as mono- and co-infection were evaluated against the recombinant HPV16 E7 protein (rE7), rHsp20, rHsp27 proteins as well as Hp91 peptide as diagnostic markers
Study population Iranian subjects who were seropositive for HPV-16 and 18 L1 capsids were divided into three groups: seropositive for HPV-16, seropositive for HPV-18, and seropositive for both HPV-16 and HPV-18 infections
Summary
Among different types of human papillomavirus (HPV), types 16 and 18 were known to be high-risk agents causing mainly cervical cancer. The potential of HPV E7 protein has been proved as a diagnostic marker of cervical cancer. Among the high-risk HPVs, types 16 and 18 are responsible for the majority of cervical cancer in the world especially in Iran [1, 3]. A report recommended an organized cervical screening with HPV DNA testing for women in Iran, beginning at age 35 and repeated every 10 or 5 years [6]. Some studies showed that the presence of E7-specific antibodies was associated with an increased relative risk for cervical cancer that may be detected up to 5 years prior to diagnosis [7]. Combination of HPV markers is preferred to predict survival among individuals with HPV infections [18]
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