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The biological properties of E6 and E7 oncoproteins from human papillomaviruses

Authors :
Rosita Accardi
Raffaella Ghittoni
Uzma Hasan
Tarik Gheit
Massimo Tommasino
Bakary S. Sylla
Source :
Virus Genes. 40:1-13
Publication Year :
2009
Publisher :
Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2009.

Abstract

More than 100 different human papillomavirus (HPV) types have been isolated so far, and they can be sub-grouped in cutaneous or mucosal according to their ability to infect the skin or the mucosa of the genital or upper-respiratory tracts. A sub-group of human mucosal HPVs, referred to as high-risk HPV types, is responsible for approximately 5% of all human cancers, which represents one-third of all the tumours induced by viruses. Epidemiological and biological studies have shown that HPV16 is the most oncogenic type within the high-risk group. Emerging lines of evidence suggest that, in addition to the high-risk mucosal HPV types, certain cutaneous HPVs are involved in skin cancer. HPV-associated cancers are intimately linked to HPV persistence and the accumulation of chromosomal rearrangements. The products of the early genes, E6 and E7, of the high-risk mucosal HPV types play a key role in both events. Indeed, these proteins have developed a number of strategies to evade host immuno-surveillance allowing viral persistence, and to alter cell cycle and apoptosis control, facilitating the accumulation of DNA damage/mutations. Often, the two oncoproteins target the same cellular pathways with different mechanisms, showing a strong synergism in promoting cellular transformation and neutralizing the immune response. Here, we review most of the findings on the biological properties and molecular mechanisms of the oncoproteins E6 and E7 from mucosal and cutaneous HPV types.

Details

ISSN :
1572994X and 09208569
Volume :
40
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Virus Genes
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....6ec183385a31da709ecac6f35885f649
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11262-009-0412-8