1. Upregulation of IFNE in cervical biopsies of patients with high-risk human papillomavirus infections.
- Author
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Zhang L, Zhou Y, Xing X, Li H, Zhang Z, Qian R, and Hu X
- Subjects
- Female, Humans, Biopsy, Cervix Uteri chemistry, Cervix Uteri pathology, RNA, Messenger genetics, Up-Regulation, Papillomavirus Infections genetics, Papillomavirus Infections pathology, Interferons genetics
- Abstract
Problem: Interferon epsilon (IFN-ε) is constitutively expressed in the epithelium of female reproductive tract and confers vital protection against sexually transmitted pathogens in mouse models. However, there is limited insight into the role of IFN-ε in human sexually transmitted infections such as human papillomavirus (HPV)., Method of Study: Cervical biopsies were obtained from high-risk (HR) HPV positive (n = 28) and HR-HPV negative (n = 10) women. mRNA expression of IFN-ε in cervical tissues was measured by qPCR. Expression of the IFN-ε protein was determined by Western blot analysis, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining., Results: mRNA expression of IFN-ε was higher in the ectocervix than that of other IFNs, and was further upregulated in HR-HPV positive women compared with HR-HPV negative women. Expression of the IFN-ε protein was comparable between HR-HPV infected patients and healthy controls., Conclusions: These results reveal differential expression of IFN-ε mRNA between individuals with or without HR-HPV infection, and imply direct or indirect regulatory mechanisms for IFN-ε transcription by HPV. Expression of IFN-ε protein in HPV infections would require further validation., (© 2023 The Authors. Immunity, Inflammation and Disease published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
- Published
- 2023
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