Interferons and their receptors in human papillomavirus lesions of the uterine cervix

Eur J Gynaecol Oncol. 2002;23(2):145-50.

Abstract

Purpose of investigation: In this study we analyzed the immunohistochemical expression of specific types of interferon (IFN) in human papillomavirus (HPV) associated cervical lesions.

Methods: Reactivity to anti-IFN-alpha,-beta and -gamma and to anti-IFN-alpha/beta- and gamma-receptors was tested in 33 cervical punch biopsies from 24 HPV-infected women and nine healthy controls. The HPV-infected cases were subdivided into low-risk and high-risk groups, according to the known "oncogenic" potential of the HPV-types detected by PCR.

Results: Cervical epithelium and stroma in HPV-negative as well as low-risk HPV-positive samples were diffusely stained by anti IFN-alpha, beta and gamma antibodies. In contrast, a significantly lower percentage of high-risk HPV-infected tissues was immunoreactive to IFN-beta in the stroma and IFN-gamma in the epithelium. There were no relevant differences between control and HPV cases in the expression of IFN-receptors.

Conclusion: We show that a decreased production of some specific classes of IFN is associated with high-risk-type HPV lesions suggesting an important role of IFN distribution patterns in the pathogenesis of HPV lesions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biopsy, Needle
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Interferon-alpha / analysis
  • Interferon-beta / analysis
  • Interferon-gamma / analysis
  • Interferons / analysis*
  • Papillomaviridae / isolation & purification*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / immunology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Receptors, Interferon / analysis*
  • Tumor Virus Infections / immunology*
  • Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / immunology*
  • Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / metabolism
  • Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / virology
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / virology

Substances

  • Interferon-alpha
  • Receptors, Interferon
  • Interferon-beta
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Interferons