The E7 oncoprotein associates with Mi2 and histone deacetylase activity to promote cell growth

E7 is the main transforming protein of human papilloma virus type 16 (HPV16) which is implicated in the formation of cervical cancer. The transforming activity of E7 has been attributed to its interaction with the retinoblastoma (Rb) tumour suppressor. However, Rb binding is not sufficient for transformation by E7. Mutations within a zinc finger domain, which is dispensable for Rb binding, also abolish E7 transformation functions. Here we show that HPV16 E7 associates with histone deacetylase in vitro and in vivo, via its zinc finger domain. Using a genetic screen, we identify Mi2beta, a component of the recently identified NURD histone deacetylase complex, as a protein that binds directly to the E7 zinc finger. A zinc finger point mutant which is unable to bind Mi2beta and histone deacetylase but is still able to bind Rb fails to overcome cell cycle arrest in osteosarcoma cells. Our results suggest that the binding to a histone deacetylase complex is an important parameter for the growthpromoting activity of the human papilloma virus E7 protein. This provides the first indication that viral oncoproteins control cell proliferation by targeting deacetylation pathways.     

Effects of Intranasal Administration of a Leptin-Secreting Lactococcus lactis Recombinant on Food Intake, Body Weight, and Immune Response of Mice

Leptin is an adipocyte-derived pleiotropic hormone that modulates a large number of physiological functions, including control of body weight and regulation of the immune system. In this work, we show that a recombinant strain of the food-grade lactic acid bacterium Lactococcus lactis (LL-lep) can produce and efficiently secrete human leptin. The secreted leptin is a fully biologically active hormone, as demonstrated by its capacity to stimulate a STAT3 reporter gene in HEK293 cells transfected with the Ob-Rb leptin receptor. The immunomodulatory activity of leptin-secreting L. lactis was evaluated in vivo by coexpression with the human papillomavirus type 16 E7 protein. In C57BL/6 mice immunized intranasally with a recombinant L. lactis strain coproducing leptin and E7 antigen, the adaptive immune response was significantly higher than in mice immunized with recombinant L. lactis producing only E7 antigen, demonstrating adjuvanticity of leptin. We then analyzed the effects of intranasally administered LL-lep in obese ob/ob mice. We observed that daily administration of LL-lep to these mice significantly reduced body weight gain and food intake. These results demonstrate that leptin can be produced and secreted in an active form by L. lactis and that leptin-producing L. lactis regulates in vivo antigen-specific immune responses, as well as body weight and food consumption.     

HPV16+治疗性无佐剂蛋白疫苗—HPV16Z- Hsp65-E6/E7的构建、表达及纯化工艺研究

目的：研制针对我国宫颈癌高危相关的HPV16型的治疗性无佐剂蛋白疫苗。方法：应用PCR技术自我国山西宫颈癌高发现场分离到的毒株-HPV16z中获得E6/E7转化基因片段,自卡介苗菌株中克隆获得Hsp65基因片段,对E6/E7基因片段定点突变修饰,构建pET28a-Hsp65-E6/E7表达载体,在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中表达融合蛋白,并研究重组蛋白的纯化方案和工艺。结果：成功构建pET28a-Hsp65-E6/E7重组表达载体,E6/E7突变位点正确,融合蛋白在亲和层析柱上正确复性和初步纯化,经阴离子交换色谱纯化后蛋白纯度达到95%。结论：该研究为无佐剂治疗性重组蛋白疫苗Hsp65-E6/E7的进一步功能研究奠定了基础。     

Induction of an antibody response in mice against human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 after immunization with HPV recombinant Salmonella strains

 Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are present in approximately 95% of all cervical carcinomas and the HPV E6 and E7 genes are continuously expressed in these lesions. There is also circumstantial evidence that often natural immunity against HPV is generated and that this is of influence on HPV-induced lesions. Stimulation of the immune system by proper presentation of relevant HPV antigens might, therefore, lead to a prophylactic or therapeutic immunological intervention for HPV-induced lesions. For this purpose we have expressed the E6 and E7 protein of HPV 16 in an attenuated strain of Salmonella typhimurium (SL3261, aroA mutation), which has been used extensively as a live vector. Live recombinant Salmonella vaccines have the ability to elicit humoral, secretory and cell-mediated immune responses, including cytotoxic T cells, against the heterologous antigens they express. This report describes the construction of recombinant Salmonella strains expressing the HPV 16 E6 and E7 proteins, and the induction of an HPV-16-specific immune response in mice after immunization with these live vectors. Received: 25 June 1996 / Accepted: 6 August 1996     

Critical evaluation of HPV16 gene copy number quantification by SYBR green PCR

Background  

Human papilloma virus (HPV) load and physical status are considered useful parameters for clinical evaluation of cervical squamous cell neoplasia. However, the errors implicit in HPV gene quantification by PCR are not well documented. We have undertaken the first rigorous evaluation of the errors that can be expected when using SYBR green qPCR for quantification of HPV type 16 gene copy numbers. We assessed a modified method, in which external calibration curves were generated from a single construct containing HPV16 E2, HPV16 E6 and the host gene hydroxymethylbilane synthase in a 1:1:1 ratio.     

人乳头瘤病毒16型(新疆株)E7基因的克隆与突变研究

目的：克隆分析人乳头瘤病毒16型(HPV16)新疆株的研基因;并对E7基因进行突变改造,以比较野生型与突变型HPV16E7基因的功能。方法：根据从中国新疆维吾尔族妇女宫颈癌活检组织标本中提取的DNA,进行PCR扩增获得HPV16E7基因,然后分别将其克隆到pMD18-T载体上进行DNA序列分析。根据HPV16E7基因的特点,分别设计点突变引物,用PCR的方法进行HPV16E7基因的点突变。结果：PCR检测显示扩增出HPV16(新疆株)E8基因;测序结果表明HPV16-XJ的研基因全长297bp,与德国标准株一致;利用设计突变位点的引物经PCR扩增,经序列测定后,分别得到了第70、172、271位碱基突变的HPV16E7基因;分别构建了野生型与单、双、三点突变的重组质粒pMD18-T-HPV16E7。结论：人乳头瘤病毒16型(新疆株)E7基因结构与德国标准株相同。HPV16E7基因多点突变的改造,为探索HPV16E7基因功能的变化和开展疫苗研究奠定了理论基础。     

Protection against human papillomavirus type 16-induced tumors in mice using non-genetically modified lactic acid bacteria displaying E7 antigen at its surface

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the causative agent of cervical cancer (CxCa) and the most commonly sexually transmitted pathogen worldwide. HPV type 16 (HPV-16) E7 oncoprotein is constitutively produced in CxCa and considered as a good antigen candidate for the development of new therapeutic CxCa vaccines. Here, we report the use of non-genetically modified, E7-expressing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) by using the cell-binding domain from Lactobacillus casei A2 phage lysin as a cell wall anchor. The versatility of this system was validated by investigating E7 stability at the surface of Lactococcus lactis and L. casei, two major species of LAB. Moreover, we demonstrated the successful use of these LAB displaying E7 antigen as a mucosal live vaccine in mice. Altogether, these results show the feasibility of using non-genetically modified LAB for low-cost mucosal immunotherapy against HPV-related CxCa in humans.     

Enhancement of immunotherapeutic effects of HPV16E7 on cervical cancer by fusion with CTLA4 extracellular region

Cervical cancer is caused by infection by high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), especially HPV16. Limitations in current treatments of cervical cancers call for the development of new and improved immunotherapies. This study aims at investigating the efficacy of a novel vaccine consisting of modified HPV 16E7 fused with human cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4). The regions in HPV16 E7 gene associated with its transformation and CTL-enhanced response were modified; the resultant HPV16mE7 was fused with extracellular region of CTLA4 to generate HPVml6E7-eCTLA4 fusion protein. Binding of this fusion protein to B7 molecules expressed on antigen presenting-cells (APCs) was demonstrated. C57BL/6 (H-2^b) mice immunized with low dose of the fusion protein (10 μg) produced higher titer antibody and stronger specific CTL response, and expressed higher levels of IFN-γ and IL-12, compared with those immunized with HPVml6E7 only or admixture of HPVml6E7 and CTLA4, or PBS; and were protected from lethal dose tumor challenge. Tumor growth was retarded and survival prolonged in mouse models with the fusion protein treatment. Our results demonstrate that fusion of HPV16 E7 with eCTLA4 targeting APCs resulted in enhanced immunity, and that this fusion protein may be useful for improving the efficacy of immunotherapeutic treatments of cervical cancer and other HPV16 infection-associated tumors.     

State of Human Papilloma Virus DNA in Cervical Carcinomas

Cervical carcinoma is etiologically associated with the human papilloma virus (HPV), HPV 16 and HPV 18 being the most common. Viral DNA is thought to persist mostly in the episomal form in early tumor development, and in the integrated form in carcinomas. This assumption was checked with a new method that discriminated between RNAs transcribed from episomal and integrated HPV DNAs. Both forms were detected in carcinomas of Russian patients regardless of the disease stage. The data were verified by two other methods. RNA with sequences of the HPV transforming gene E7proved to be transcribed from either DNA form. The results suggest that HPV integration is not crucial for carcinoma progression.     

Oncogenic comparison of human papillomavirus type 58 E7 variants

Human papillomavirus 58 (HPV58) ranks the second or third in East Asian cervical cancers. Current studies on HPV58 are scarce and focus on the prototype. Previously, we identified the three most common circulating HPV58 E7 strains contained amino acid alterations: G41R/G63D (51%), T20I/G63S (22%) and T74A/D76E (14%) respectively. Among them, the T20I/G63S variant (V1) had a stronger epidemiological association with cervical cancer. We therefore suggested that V1 possessed stronger oncogenicity than the other two variants. Here, we performed phenotypic assays to characterize and compare their oncogenicities with HPV58 E7 prototype. Our results showed that overexpression of V1 conferred a higher colony‐forming ability to primary murine epithelial cells than prototype (P < 0.05) and other variants, implicating its higher immortalising potential. Further experiments showed that both V1 and prototype enhanced the anchorage‐independent growth of NIH/3T3 cells (P < 0.001), implicating their stronger transforming power than the two other variants. Moreover, they possessed an increased ability to degrade pRb (P < 0.001), which is a major effector pathway of E7‐driven oncogenesis. Our work represents the first study to compare the oncogenicities of HPV58 E7 prototype and variants. These findings deepened our understanding of HPV58 and might inform clinical screening and follow‐up strategy.     

Apoptosis induced by an antagonist peptide against HPV16 E7 in vitro and in vivo via restoration of p53

Human papilloma virus type 16 (HPV16) E7 is a viral oncoprotein that is believed to play a major role in cervical neoplasia. A novel antagonist peptide against HPV16 E7 was previously selected by phage display screening and the selected peptide was found to have anti-tumor efficacy against HPV16-positive cervical carcinoma through induction of cell cycle arrest. In the current study, to further elucidate the mechanisms of the antagonist peptide, the effects of the peptide on apoptosis are investigated by RT-PCR, Western blotting, MTT assay, TUNEL staining, Annexin V apoptosis assay, flow cytometry, and animal experiments. The antagonist peptide showed obvious anti-tumor efficacy through apoptosis induction, both in HPV16-positive cervical cancer cell lines and tumor xenografts. Our results also revealed that the peptide induced accumulation of cellular p53 and p21, and led to HPV16 E7 protein degradation. In the case of mRNA levels, it resulted in unaltered p53 and HPV16 E7 expression, but increased expression of p21. In contrast, the induction of apoptosis and p53 reactivation effects by the selected peptide were abolished after E7 knocked down with siRNA. These results demonstrate that the selected peptide can induce E7 degradation and lead to marked apoptosis in HPV16-related cancer cells by activating cellular p53 and its target genes, such as p21. Furthermore, the evident therapeutic efficacy obtained from the subcutaneous tumor model experiments in nude mice suggests a therapeutic potential for HPV16-related cancers of the selected peptide. Therefore, this specific peptide may be used to create specific biotherapies for the treatment of HPV 16-positive cervical cancers.     

Large-scale analysis of protein expression changes in human keratinocytes immortalized by human papilloma virus type 16 E6 and E7 oncogenes

Background  

Infection with high-risk type human papilloma viruses (HPVs) is associated with cervical carcinomas and with a subset of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Viral E6 and E7 oncogenes cooperate to achieve cell immortalization by a mechanism that is not yet fully understood. Here, human keratinocytes were immortalized by long-term expression of HPV type 16 E6 or E7 oncoproteins, or both. Proteomic profiling was used to compare expression levels for 741 discrete protein features.     

人乳头瘤病毒16型 E7蛋白在子宫颈癌细胞内的定位

应用重组质粒在大肠杆菌中表达人乳头瘤病毒(HPV)16 型 E7 基因.以所产生的 E7 融合蛋白为抗原免疫家兔,制得抗 E7 蛋白抗血清.在子宫颈癌组织切片中用此抗血清作免疫组化染色(胶体金标记染色法).在光学显微镜下可观察到癌细胞中存在 E7 抗原黑色颗粒,位于细胞核内.主要附着于核膜,可证明 E7 基因在 HPV16 感染的子宫颈癌细胞中有强烈表达;提示 E7 基因可能即为 HPV16的癌基因.     

Human papillomavirus type 16 mutant E7 protein induces oncogenic transformation via up-regulation of cyclin A and cdc25A

A new mutant human papiUomavirus type 16 E7 gene, termed HPV16 HBE7, was isolated from cervical carcinoma biopsy samples from patients in an area with high incidence of cervical cancer (Hubei province, China). A previous study showed that the HPVI6 HBE7 protein was primarily cytoplasmic while wild-type HPV16 E7 protein, termed HPV16 WET, was concentrated in the nucleus. With the aim of studying the biological functions of HPV16 HBE7, the transforming potential of HPV16 HBE7 in NIH/3T3 cells was detected through observation of cell morphology, cell proliferation assay and anchorage-independent growth assay. The effect of HPVI6 HBE7 on cell cycle was examined by flow cytometry. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and RT-PCR were used to investigate the influence of HPVI6 HBE7 protein on the expression of regulation factors associated with GI/S checkpoint. The results showed that HPV16 HBE7 protein, as well as HPV16 WE7 protein, held transformation activity. NIH/3T3 cells expressing HPV16 HBE7 could easily transition from G1 phase into S phase and expressed high level of cyclin A and cdc25A. These results indicated HPV16 mutant E7 protein, located in the cytoplasm, induces oncogenic transformation of NIH/3T3 cells via up-regulation of cyclin A and cdc25A.     

Enhanced degradation of p53 protein in HPV-6 and BPV-1 E6-immortalized human mammary epithelial cells.

Normal mammary epithelial cells are efficiently immortalized by the E6 gene of human papillomavirus (HPV)-16, a virus commonly associated with cervical cancers. Surprisingly, introduction of the E6 gene from HPV-6, which is rarely found in cervical cancer, or bovine papillomavirus (BPV)-1, into normal mammary cells resulted in the generation of immortal cell lines. The establishment of HPV-6 and BPV-1 E6-immortalized cells was less efficient and required a longer period in comparison to HPV-16 E6. These HPV-6- and BPV-1 E6-immortalized cells demonstrated dramatically reduced levels of p53 protein by immunoprecipitation. While the half-life of p53 protein in normal mammary epithelial cells was approximately 3 h, it was reduced to approximately 15 min in all the E6-immortalized cells. These results demonstrate that the E6 genes of both high-risk and low-risk papilloma viruses immortalize human mammary epithelial cells and induce a marked degradation of p53 protein in vivo.     

A point mutational analysis of human papillomavirus type 16 E7 protein.

The E7 open reading frame of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) has been shown to be selectively retained in cervical tumors and to encode both transforming and trans-activating functions in murine cells, supporting the notion that expression of E7 contributes towards the progression of premalignant cervical lesions. A comparison among E7 sequences of different HPV types reveals some homology at the amino acid level. Of particular interest are two regions, one which contains significant homology to a region of adenovirus E1a and simian virus 40 large T (LT), and a second region which contains two conserved Cys-X-X-Cys motifs. To determine the importance of these domains to the function of the E7 protein, a series of mutants carrying substitutions at amino acids in the region of E1a-LT homology and at the Cys-X-X-Cys motifs were constructed. The mutated E7 sequences were placed under the control of a strong heterologous promoter (Moloney long terminal repeat), and the activity of the mutants was assayed in NIH 3T3 cells, a cell line in which both the transforming function and the trans-activating function of E7 could be determined. A single amino acid substitution analogous to a mutation in E1a which destroys the transforming ability of this protein abolished both transformation and trans-activation by E7. Mutations at the Cys-X-X-Cys motifs demonstrated that this region contributes to the transforming potential of E7, although proteins in which both motifs were interrupted retained a low level of transforming activity. Mutations in the region of E1a-LT homology which occur within a recognition sequence for casein kinase II did not markedly affect transforming activity of E7 but severely reduced trans-activating ability. This indicates that efficient trans-activation is not required for transformation by HPV16 E7 in these cells.     

Vaccination with an adenoviral vector expressing calreticulin-human papillomavirus 16 E7 fusion protein eradicates E7 expressing established tumors in mice

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women, particularly in developing countries. The causal association between genital human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and cervical cancer has been firmly established, and the oncogenic potential of certain HPV types has been clearly demonstrated. Vaccines targeting the oncogenic proteins, E6 and E7 of HPV-16 and -18 are the focus of current vaccine development. Previous studies have shown that calreticulin (CRT) enhances the MHC class I presentation of linked peptide/protein and may serve as an effective vaccination strategy for antigen-specific cancer treatment. METHODS: Two replication-deficient adenoviruses, one expressing HPV-16 E7 (Ad-E7) and the other expressing CRT linked to E7 (Ad-CRT/E7), were assessed for their ability to induce cellular immune response and tested for prophylactic and therapeutic effects in an E7-expressing mouse tumor model. RESULTS: Vaccination with Ad-CRT/E7 led to a dramatic increase in E7-specific T cell proliferation, interferon (IFN)-gamma-secretion, and cytotoxic activity. Immunization of mice with Ad-CRT/E7 was effective in preventing E7-expressing tumor growth, as well as eradicating established tumors with long-term immunological memory. CONCLUSION: Vaccination with an adenoviral vector expressing CRT-E7 fusion protein represents an effective strategy for immunotherapy of cervical cancer in rodents, with possible therapeutic potential in clinical settings.     

E6 and E7 from human papillomavirus type 16 cooperate to target the PDZ protein Na/H exchange regulatory factor 1

Previous studies have shown that the PDZ-binding motif of the E6 oncoprotein from the mucosal high-risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) types plays a key role in HPV-mediated cellular transformation in in vitro and in vivo experimental models. HR HPV E6 oncoproteins have the ability to efficiently degrade members of the PDZ motif-containing membrane-associated guanylate kinase (MAGUK) family; however, it is possible that other PDZ proteins are also targeted by E6. Here, we describe a novel interaction of HPV type 16 (HPV16) E6 with a PDZ protein, Na(+)/H(+) exchange regulatory factor 1 (NHERF-1), which is involved in a number of cellular processes, including signaling and transformation. HPV16 E6 associates with and promotes the degradation of NHERF-1, and this property is dependent on the C-terminal PDZ-binding motif of E6. Interestingly, HPV16 E7, via the activation of the cyclin-dependent kinase complexes, promoted the accumulation of a phosphorylated form of NHERF-1, which is preferentially targeted by E6. Thus, both oncoproteins appear to cooperate in targeting NHERF-1. Notably, HPV18 E6 is not able to induce NHERF-1 degradation, indicating that this property is not shared with E6 from all HR HPV types. Downregulation of NHERF-1 protein levels was also observed in HPV16-positive cervical cancer-derived cell lines, such as SiHa and CaSki, as well as HPV16-positive cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Finally, our data show that HPV16-mediated NHERF-1 degradation correlates with the activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3'-OH kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling pathway, which is known to play a key role in carcinogenesis.