Study of viral integration of HPV-16 in young patients with LSIL

• Published in: Journal of clinical pathology Vol. 56; no. 7; pp. 532 - 536
• Main Authors: Gallo, G, Bibbo, M, Bagella, L, Zamparelli, A, Sanseverino, F, Giovagnoli, M R, Vecchione, A, Giordano, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists 01.07.2003; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group Ltd; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; Copyright 2003 Journal of Clinical Pathology
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - virology; Causes of; Cervical cancer; Complications and side effects; DNA, Viral - analysis; Female; Female genital diseases; Genetic aspects; Genital system. Mammary gland; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; HPV; HSIL; human papillomavirus; human papillomavirus 16; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; LSIL; Medical sciences; open reading frame; ORF; Original; Papillomaviridae - genetics; Papillomavirus infections; Papillomavirus Infections - virology; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; PCR; polymerase chain reaction; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Risk; Risk factors; saline sodium citrate; SCC; SDS; sodium dodecyl sulfate; Tumor Virus Infections - virology; Tumors; Uterine Cervical Dysplasia - virology; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - virology; viral integration; Virus Integration; United States; Performance evaluation; Prognosis; Cervical smear; Papovaviridae; Papillomavirus; Human papillomavirus 16; Human papillomavirus; Cervical dysplasia; Female; Diagnosis; Southern blotting; Human; Integration; Premalignant lesion; Female genital diseases; Infection; Virus; Polymerase chain reaction; Pathology; Viral disease; Risk factor; Cytopathology; Technique; Molecular biology; Uterine cervix diseases
• ISSN: 0021-9746; 1472-4146
• DOI: 10.1136/jcp.56.7.532

Aims: To investigate the physical status of human papillomavirus 16 (HPV-16) in low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs) as a means of determining the percentage of viral integration. Methods: Ninety two LSIL/HPV positive Thin Prep™ samples were initially tested for the E6 gene by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify the HPV-16 virus. To avoid false positive results, the specificity of the bands obtained from PCR was confirmed by Southern blot hybridisation with internal oligonucleotide probes. Next, a PCR screen for the E2 gene was performed to identify those samples in which the virus was integrated. Viral integration was detected in just over half of them. Results: Twenty of the 92 samples were HPV-16 positive, as shown by PCR for the E6 gene. Southern blot analysis confirmed that 13 of these samples were positive for the viral E6 gene. Thus, viral integration was detected in just over a half of the samples positive for HPV-16. Conclusions: These data show that HPV-16 integration occurs in a subset of LSILs. The measurement of HPV-16 integration would be a helpful complementary tool for cytological evaluation in primary cervical screening to identify those patients at risk of developing high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions and cervical cancer.