Telomeres and Telomerase During Human Papillomavirus-Induced Carcinogenesis

Overview

Journal Mol Diagn Ther

Specialties Molecular Biology
Pathology
Pharmacology

Date 2018 May 20

PMID 29777397

Citations 13

Authors

Anna Panczyszyn

Ewa Boniewska-Bernacka

Grzegorz Glab

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) belong to a small spherical virus family and are transmitted through direct contact, most often through sexual behavior. More than 200 types of HPV are known, a dozen or so of which are classified as high-risk viruses (HR HPV) and may contribute to the development of cervical cancer. HPV is a small virus with a capsid composed of L1 and L2 proteins, which are crucial for entry to the cell. The infection begins at the basal cell layer and progresses to involve cells from higher layers of the cervical epithelium. E6 and E7 viral proteins are involved in the process of carcinogenesis. They interact with suppressors of oncogenesis, including p53 and Rb proteins. This leads to DNA replication and intensive cell divisions. The persistent HR HPV infection leads to the development of dysplasia and these changes may progress to invasive cancer. During the initial stage of carcinogenesis, telomeres shorten until telomerase activates. The activation of telomerase, the enzyme necessary to extend chromosome ends (telomeres) is the key step in cell immortalization. Analyzing the expression level of hTERT and hTERC genes encoding telomerase and telomere length measurement may constitute new markers of the early carcinogenesis.

Citing Articles

Canonical and non-canonical functions of the non-coding RNA component (TERC) of telomerase complex.

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Epigenetic and Genetic Keys to Fight HPV-Related Cancers.

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p16 flow cytometry of exfoliated cervical cells: Its role in quantitative pathology and clinical diagnosis of squamous intraepithelial lesions.

He Y, Shi J, Zhao H, Wang Y, Zhang C, Han S Clin Transl Med. 2023; 13(3):e1209.

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The Molecular Interplay between Human Oncoviruses and Telomerase in Cancer Development.

Tornesello M, Cerasuolo A, Starita N, Tornesello A, Bonelli P, Tuccillo F Cancers (Basel). 2022; 14(21).

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Association of Relative Telomere Length and Risk of High Human Papillomavirus Load in Cervical Epithelial Cells.

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