STUDIES ON THE EXPRESSION OF p16 super(INK4 Lambda ) mRNA IN CERVICAL DYSPLASIAS

• Published in: Biotechnology, biotechnological equipment Vol. 26; no. 1; pp. 80 - 84
• Main Authors: Simanaviciene, V, Popendikyte, V, Gudleviciene, Z, Armalyte, S, Kirkutyte, A, Shikova, E, Zvirbliene, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.04.2012
• Subjects: Human papillomavirus
• ISSN: 1310-2818

Cervical cancer is caused by a persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (hr-HPV). Accurate grading of premalignant precursor lesions, referred to as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) is important for clinical management of patients. A promising candidate marker to identify high-grade CIN lesions is the cellular protein p16 super(INK4 Lambda ), an indirect indicator of cell cycle dysregulation commonly expressed in cervical dysplasias and carcinomas associated with hr-HPV. Like other cell cycle regulatory proteins, the diagnostic role of p16 super(INK4 Lambda ) is still under consideration. The aim of the current study was to investigate the expression of p16 super(INK4 Lambda ) mRNA by a quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) in cervical specimens and evaluate the correlation between the p16 super(INK4 Lambda ) expression levels and the grade of CIN as well as hr-HPV genotypes. The qRT-PCR assay for the detection of p16 super(INK4 Lambda ) mRNA was developed and optimized. As an internal control, integrin gene was selected. The levels of p16 super(INK4 Lambda ) mRNA were investigated in 567 cervical specimens collected from women with confirmed cytological and/or histological diagnosis. The correlation between the p16 super(INK4 Lambda ) mRNA expression level and the grade of cervical cytological/histological alterations was statistically evaluated. The highest p16 super(INK4 Lambda ) mRNA expression level was observed in patients with high-grade cervical dysplasia. The lowest mRNA expression level was detected in cervical specimens collected from woman with normal Pap smears. To investigate the correlation between the levels of p16 super(INK4 Lambda ) mRNA and the particular HPV genotype the multiplex PCR was employed that alowed detection of 16 hr-HPV genotypes. The correlation analysis revealed that the oncogenic potential of HPV but not a particular HPV genotype is associated with the increased levels of p16 super(INK4 Lambda ) mRNA in cervical specimens.