Biomedical subjects

J T Bryan

Publications and source records attributed to J T Bryan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Neutralization of human papillomavirus type 11 (HPV-11) by serum from women vaccinated with yeast-derived HPV-11 L1 virus-like particles: correlation with competitive radioimmunoassay titer.

Neutralization of human papillomavirus type 11 (HPV-11) has been demonstrated using serum and cervical secretions from primates vaccinated with virus-like particles (VLPs). Theoretically, neutralizing antibodies could protect women from HPV infection. The immunogenicity of a yeast-derived HPV-11 L1 VLP vaccine was tested in women. Serum specimens were evaluated for HPV-11 titer by competitive radioimmunoassay (cRIA) and for neutralization by use of the athymic mouse xenograft system. Analysis of serum from 104 subjects showed a dose response in HPV-11 cRIA titers and neutralization. Overall, 68 (82.9%) of 82 postimmunization serum specimens from VLP recipients were 100% neutralizing when used in the assay at a 1:50 dilution. Of 69 serum specimens, 63 (91.3%) with cRIA titers >200 milliMerck units per milliliter were neutralizing. Immunization with HPV VLPs elicits a vigorous serum immune response in a high percentage of women. The HPV-11 cRIA titer appears to be a surrogate marker for neutralization.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Transmission of human papillomavirus type 11 infection by desquamated cornified cells.

While much is known about the human papillomavirus (HPV) productive cycle, the mechanisms of virion transmission from person to person are poorly understood. The keratinocyte is the target cell of HPV infection. As keratinocytes differentiate, nuclei are lost and the cornified cell envelope develops. Layers of these desquamated cornified cells (DCCs) are continuously shed from the stratum corneum. Release of HPV requires the cornified cell envelope, a normally very durable structure, to break apart, liberating the contents of the cell. In differentiated keratinocytes infected with HPV 11, the cornified cell envelope is abnormally thin and fragile. In this study, DCCs from HPV 11-infected genital epithelium were used to investigate the mechanisms of viral transmission. First, HPV 11-infected tissue was examined for the presence of virions by transmission electron microscopy. Virions were observed in the nuclei of differentiated keratinocytes. In addition, virions were detected in the cytoplasm of DCCs that had undergone nuclear dissolution. Rarely, virions were observed outside of cells. Next, infectivity of intact and ruptured DCCs was tested in an assay performed in the athymic mouse xenograft system. High-titer cesium chloride gradient-purified HPV 11 virions infected 100% of recovered xenografts. Using intact DCCs derived from HPV 11-infected tissue, 62.5% of recovered xenografts were infected. To test the effects of mechanical stress on infectivity, DCCs were ruptured by sonication and used in the infectivity assay. The infectivity rate increased to 90%. We conclude that DCCs serve as vehicles for efficient, concentrated delivery of virions in HPV 11 infection.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Association of the human papillomavirus type 11 E1()E4 protein with cornified cell envelopes derived from infected genital epithelium.

The cornified cell envelope (CCE) is an insoluble matrix of covalently linked proteins assembled in differentiating keratinocytes, providing a barrier against external insults. CCEs derived from HPV 11-infected tissue are fragile compared to those derived from healthy epithelium. To study a possible role for the E1()E4 protein, HPV 11-infected epithelium was examined for the distribution of this protein and three CCE proteins. CCEs were then purified from genital epithelium, fragmented, washed to remove nonassociated proteins, and analyzed for E1()E4 protein. In HPV 11-infected tissue, the E1()E4 protein was detected in the region of the CCE in differentiated keratinocytes. Loricrin and cytokeratin 10 (K10) were absent in E1()E4-positive cells, and E1()E4 protein was not detected in cells containing these proteins. E1()E4 protein was detected in immunoblots as a 10- to 11-kDa doublet in extracts of intact CCEs from infected tissue and in extracts of CCE fragments prepared without using reducing agents. Extraction with reducing agents eliminated E1()E4 detection, suggesting that disulfide bonding was involved in the association with CCE fragments. In addition, cyanogen bromide degradation experiments, immunofluorescence, and immunoelectron microscopy provided evidence that E1()E4 protein was associated with CCE fragments by covalent bonds other than disulfide bonds. We conclude that E1()E4 protein expression is associated with profound alterations in detection of loricrin and K10 in HPV 11-infected genital epithelium. The E1()E4 protein copurified with CCEs derived from infected epithelium and could be identified in CCE fragments, suggesting a possible role for E1()E4 in the development of CCE abnormalities.

Blotting, Western↗

PubMed2000

Residues in the 1A rod domain segment and the linker L2 are required for stabilizing the A11 molecular alignment mode in keratin intermediate filaments.

Both analyses of x-ray diffraction patterns of well oriented specimens of trichocyte keratin intermediate filaments (IF) and in vitro cross-linking experiments on several types of IF have documented that there are three modes of alignment of pairs of antiparallel molecules in all IF: A11, A22 and A12, based on which parts of the major rod domain segments are overlapped. Here we have examined which residues may be important for stabilizing the A11 mode. Using the K5/K14 system, we have made point mutations of charged residues along the chains and examined the propensities of equimolar mixtures of wild type and mutant chains to reassemble using as criteria: the formation (or not) of IF in vitro or in vivo; and stabilities of one- and two-molecule assemblies. We identified that the conserved residue Arg10 of the 1A rod domain, and the conserved residues Glu4 and Glu6 of the linker L2, were essential for stability. Additionally, conserved residues Lys31 of 1A and Asp1 of 2A and non-conserved residues Asp/Asn9 of 1A, Asp/Asn3 of 2A, and Asp7 of L2 are important for stability. Notably, these groups of residues lie close to each other when two antiparallel molecules are aligned in the A11 mode, and are located toward the ends of the overlap region. Although other sets of residues might theoretically also contribute, we conclude that these residues in particular engage in favorable intermolecular ionic and/or H-bonding interactions and thereby may play a role in stabilizing the A11 mode of alignment in keratin IF.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2000

Abnormalities of cornified cell envelopes isolated from human papillomavirus type 11-infected genital epithelium.

Keratinocytes are the predominant cells in human skin. As keratinocytes differentiate, the nuclei are lost and the cornified cell envelope (CCE) develops, forming a covalently cross-linked, insoluble structure under the cell membrane. Layers of anuclear CCEs in the stratum corneum provide a barrier against water loss and mechanical damage and are a first line of immunologic defense. Infection of keratinocytes with human papillomaviruses (HPVs) induces proliferation and abnormalities including retention of nuclei in the stratum corneum and perinuclear halo formation. For effective transmission, HPV virions must be released from the CCE, a normally very durable structure. Therefore, it is likely that HPV infection affects the CCE in a manner that would facilitate virion release. To investigate the effects of HPV 11 infection on morphology and fragility, CCEs were purified from infected and uninfected epithelium. CCEs isolated from uninfected epithelium were smooth, cuboidal, and sonicated into long coiled structures. In contrast, CCEs from HPV 11-infected epithelium were irregular in size and shape, with rough edges, and sonicated into small fragments. In addition, the thickness of CCEs from HPV 11-infected tissue was 65% that of uninfected epithelium. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that in contrast to uninfected epithelium, loricrin, the major component of the CCE, was abnormally distributed in the differentiated layers of HPV 11-infected epithelium. We conclude that in addition to the previously described epithelial abnormalities induced by HPV, the CCE is also affected by infection in ways that may facilitate transmission of virus from person to person.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

The human papillomavirus type 11 E1E4 protein is phosphorylated in genital epithelium.

The most abundant viral transcript in human papillomavirus (HPV) 11-infected xenograft tissue has been shown to encode the E1(wedge)E4 protein. The function of E1(wedge)E4 protein has not been determined. Several potential phosphorylation sequence motifs were identified in the HPV 11 E1(wedge)E4 protein, including potential sites of phosphorylation by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), casein kinase II, and protein kinase C. To test phosphorylation of the HPV 11 E1(wedge)E4 protein, a soluble maltose binding protein (MBP) fusion was produced in Escherichia coli. Only MAPK and PKA phosphorylated the E1(wedge)E4 protein. Phosphoamino acid analysis showed that one or more threonine residues were phosphorylated by MAPK, and both serine and threonine residues were phosphorylated by PKA. MBP-E1(wedge)E4 mutant proteins were designed to delineate the E1(wedge)E4 phosphoacceptor residues. MAPK was shown to phosphorylate E1(wedge)E4 on threonine 53 within a MAPK consensus phorphorylation sequence motif. PKA was shown to phosphorylate E1(wedge)E4 at two residues: threonine 36 within a consensus motif and serine 44 within a variant of the PKA consensus phosphorylation sequence motif. HPV 11-infected human genital tissue grown as a xenograft in an athymic mouse was labeled with [(32)P]orthophosphate. Phosphoamino acid analysis of E1(wedge)E4 protein immunoprecipitated from (32)P-labeled tissue revealed that both serine and threonine residues were phosphorylated. Analysis by liquid chromatography-mass spectrophotometry was consistent with phosphorylation of residues within the PKA and MAPK phosphorylation sequence motifs. Expression of E1(wedge)E4 protein containing phosphorylation substitution mutations showed that the PKA mutant did not differ from wild-type E1(wedge)E4 protein in intracellular distribution. In contrast, the MAPK mutant did not localize exclusively to the cytoplasm nor did it colocalize with wild-type E1(wedge)E4 protein. We conclude that HPV 11 E1(wedge)E4 protein is phosphorylated in vitro and in vivo. Our data are consistent with phosphorylation of HPV 11 E1(wedge)E4 protein by MAPK and PKA in infected tissue.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2000

Coiled-coil trigger motifs in the 1B and 2B rod domain segments are required for the stability of keratin intermediate filaments.

Many alpha-helical proteins that form two-chain coiled coils possess a 13-residue trigger motif that seems to be required for the stability of the coiled coil. However, as currently defined, the motif is absent from intermediate filament (IF) protein chains, which nevertheless form segmented two-chain coiled coils. In the present work, we have searched for and identified two regions in IF chains that are essential for the stability necessary for the formation of coiled-coil molecules and thus may function as trigger motifs. We made a series of point substitutions with the keratin 5/keratin 14 IF system. Combinations of the wild-type and mutant chains were assembled in vitro and in vivo, and the stabilities of two-chain (one-molecule) and two-molecule assemblies were examined with use of a urea disassembly assay. Our new data document that there is a region located between residues 100 and 113 of the 2B rod domain segment that is absolutely required for molecular stability and IF assembly. This potential trigger motif differs slightly from the consensus in having an Asp residue at position 4 (instead of a Glu) and a Thr residue at position 9 (instead of a charged residue), but there is an absolute requirement for a Glu residue at position 6. Because these 13 residues are highly conserved, it seems possible that this motif functions in all IF chains. Likewise, by testing keratin IF with substitutions in both chains, we identified a second potential trigger motif between residues 79 and 91 of the 1B rod domain segment, which may also be conserved in all IF chains. However, we were unable to find a trigger motif in the 1A rod domain segment. In addition, many other point substitutions had little detectable effect on IF assembly, except for the conserved Lys-23 residue of the 2B rod domain segment. Cross-linking and modeling studies revealed that Lys-23 may lie very close to Glu-106 when two molecules are aligned in the A(22) mode. Thus, the Glu-106 residue may have a dual role in IF structure: it may participate in trigger formation to afford special stability to the two-chain coiled-coil molecule, and it may participate in stabilization of the two-molecule hierarchical stage of IF structure.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2000

Propagation of human papillomavirus type 59 in the athymic mouse xenograft system.

Studies of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection are hampered by the lack of an adequate culture system. The athymic mouse xenograft system permits propagation of HPV, but only a few HPV types have been grown in this manner. To produce an oncogenic type for studies of HPV pathogenesis, a condylomata acuminata lesion from an immunosuppressed patient was used to prepare an infectious extract. The patient's lesion was shown by PCR analysis to contain abundant HPV 59 (an oncogenic type) and a lesser amount of HPV 11, a nononcogenic type. The extract was used to infect human foreskin tissue which was subsequently implanted into athymic mice. Characterization of implants recovered after 3-4 months of growth revealed the presence of HPV 59 exclusively. A second extract was prepared from one of these implants and used in an additional experiment to demonstrate the passage of HPV 59. Compared to the histopathologic changes induced by the prototypic nononcogenic HPV 11, infection with HPV 59 caused a higher degree of basal cell crowding, less acanthosis, minimal papillomatosis and less pronounced koilocytosis.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

The Dlx3 protein harbors basic residues required for nuclear localization, transcriptional activity and binding to Msx1.

The murine Dlx3 protein is a putative transcriptional activator that has been implicated during development and differentiation of epithelial tissue. Dlx3 contains a homeodomain and mutational analysis has revealed two regions, one N-terminal and one C-terminal to the homeodomain, that act as transcriptional activators in a yeast one-hybrid assay. In addition to transactivation, data are presented to demonstrate specific DNA binding and an association between Dlx3 and the Msx1 protein in vitro. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed coexpression of Dlx3 and Msx1 proteins in the differentiated layers of murine epidermal tissues. Transcription factor function requires nuclear localization. In this study, the intracellular localization of the green fluorescent protein fused to Dlx3 was examined in keratinocytes induced to differentiate by calcium and is shown to localize to the nucleus. A bipartite nuclear localization signal (NLS) was identified by mutational analysis and shown to be sufficient for nuclear localization. This was demonstrated by insertion of the Dlx3 bipartite NLS sequence into a cytoplasmic fusion protein, GFP-keratin 14, which functionally redirected GFP-keratin 14 expression to the nucleus. Further analysis of Dlx3 NLS mutants revealed that the Dlx3 NLS sequences are required for specific DNA binding, transactivation potential and interactions with the Msx1 protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1999

Detection of multiple human papillomavirus types in Condylomata acuminata lesions from otherwise healthy and immunosuppressed patients.

Condylomata acuminata, or genital warts, are proliferative lesions of genital epithelium caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. HPV types 6 and 11 are most often detected in these lesions. Genital lesions consistent with exophytic condylomata acuminata were removed by excision biopsy from 65 patients, 41 of whom were otherwise healthy individuals (control group) and 24 of whom had conditions known to cause immunosuppression. Histologically, the majority of the lesions were typical condylomata acuminata. Three lesions removed from immunosuppressed individuals also contained foci of moderate to severe dysplasia (intraepithelial neoplasia grade II/III). A recently developed PCR and reverse blot strip assay was used to determine the specific HPV types present in the genital lesions. With a set of oligonucleotide primers based on the same primer binding regions used for the MY09 and MY11 primer pair, this PCR assay detects the presence of 27 HPV types known to infect the genital tract. All but two condylomata acuminata contained either HPV type 6 or 11. The predominant type in the lesions from control patients was HPV 6, while lesions from immunosuppressed types most often contained HPV 11. Condylomata acuminata from immunosuppressed patients contained significantly more overall HPV types than lesions from the control group. HPV types associated with an increased risk of dysplasia (high-risk types) were detected in 42 (64.6%) of the total of 65 specimens; 18 (43.9%) specimens were detected in the 41 otherwise healthy individuals, and 24 (100%) specimens were detected in the 24 immunosuppressed patients. HPV 16 was the most common high-risk type detected, found in 21 of 65 (32.3%) specimens. After HPV types 6 and 11, HPV types 53 and 54 were the most frequently detected low-risk HPV types. This study demonstrates that a high percentage of condylomata acuminata lesions contain multiple HPV types, including types associated with a high risk of dysplastic abnormalities. Further studies are needed to determine the influence these additional HPV types have on the epidemiology of genital tract HPV infections and the natural history of condylomata acuminata, especially in immunosuppressed patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

A human papillomavirus related to human papillomavirus MM7/LVX82 produces distinct histological abnormalities in human foreskin implants grown as athymic mouse xenografts.

Studies of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are hampered by the lack of a conventional culture system because HPV completes its life cycle only in fully differentiated human tissue. To overcome this obstacle, the athymic mouse xenograft system has been used to study the pathogenesis of HPV 11 and to develop neutralizing assays for vaccine development. Recently, HPV 40 has been produced in this system, and HPV 16 has been produced using mice with severe combined immune deficiency. To identify and characterize additional genital HPV types for similar studies, condylomata acuminata lesions containing a high copy number of HPV and detectable L1 major capsid protein were used to prepare infectious virus stocks. Human foreskin fragments were infected with the virus preparations and implanted under the renal capsules of athymic mice. After 5 months of growth, implant tissue was removed and processed for studies to detect HPV infection. Evidence of HPV infection was noted in some of the implants, but in contrast to HPV 11-infected epithelium, the implants derived from the new virus preparations contained a lesser degree of acanthosis, less developed koilocytosis, and a reduced number of preserved nuclei in the hyperkeratotic material within the cyst lining. The L1 consensus region was amplified by polymerase chain reaction from implant DNA and sequenced. Alignment of the amplified sequences with those in the HPV sequence database showed that the 452-bp amplimer was closely related but not identical to HPV LVX82 and HPV MM7 (also called Pap 291). The entire 7.9-kb genome was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and cloned. The presence of virions of the new isolate (named HPV IU) in the implants was verified by immunohistochemical detection of L1 major capsid protein and by demonstration of virion particles by electron microscopy. A second extract was made from one of the new implants and used to successfully propagate HPV IU. These experiments demonstrate that experimental infection of human epithelium with the new isolate, HPV IU, is associated with histological abnormalities that differ in potentially important ways from the changes observed in experimental HPV 11 infection.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

The intracellular expression pattern of the human papillomavirus type 11 E1--E4 protein correlates with its ability to self associate.

The function of the human papillomavirus type 11 (HPV 11) E1--E4 spliced protein is not known. E1--E4 protein in HPV-infected tissue is detected in the cytoplasm of differentiated epithelial cells and as immunoreactive bands corresponding to potential monomers, dimers and trimers in immunoblots. The yeast two-hybrid system was employed to test for self association of the HPV 11 E1--E4 protein. To confirm the results of the yeast two-hybrid experiments, coimmunofluorescence studies of a green fluorescent fusion protein (GFP-E1--E4) and a T7 epitope-tagged E1--E4 protein were performed in C33a keratinocytes. E1--E4 protein was shown to self associate in the yeast two-hybrid system, and this result was confirmed by colocalization of GFP-E1--E4 and T7-E1(wedge)E4 proteins in keratinocytes. Analysis of E1--E4 mutants established that the C-terminus was required for self association and that sequences in the N-terminus influenced the intracellular localization of E1--E4 protein. The intracellular expression patterns of GFP-E1--E4 and GFP-E1--E4 mutants were correlated with E1--E4 binding in the yeast two-hybrid system. Those E1--E4 mutants that did not self associate in the yeast two-hybrid system were detected as diffuse cellular fluorescence when expressed as GFP fusions. In contrast, GFP-E1--E4 was detected as a perinuclear aggregate. All E1--E4 mutants capable of associating with E1--E4 in the yeast two-hybrid system were detected as aggregates when expressed as GFP fusion proteins in keratinocytes.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Expression of the human papillomavirus type 11 E5A protein from the E1E4,E5 transcript.

The abundant human papillomavirus type 11 (HPV 11) E1E4,E5 transcript potentially encodes the E1E4,E5a and E5b proteins. It is not known if either of the E5 proteins are expressed from this transcript. For HPV 16, E5 is a single open reading frame (ORF), and the E5 protein is expressed from an unspliced E2,E5 transcript but not from the spliced E1E4,E5 transcript. This study was undertaken to determine if the HPV 11 E5a protein is expressed from the E1E4,E5 transcript. To detect E5a expression in eukaryotic cells, the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene was fused to the 3' end of the E5a gene in the pEGFP-N1 vector. Several recombinant plasmid constructs were made to determine if E5a translation is influenced by upstream sequences present in the E1E4,E5 transcript. COS-7 cells were transfected with each construct, and flow cytometry was performed after 24 h of growth. The amount of E5a-GFP expressed from each construct was determined by the mean fluorescence of 2,000 transfected cells. Although the E5a-GFP fusion was expressed by all but one construct, the quantity of expressed E5a-GFP varied considerably. The most abundant expression was detected in cells transfected with the E1E4,E5a construct that lacked the 5' noncoding sequence between nucleotides (nts) 714 and 831 that is present in the authentic transcript. Other constructs expressed E5a-GFP in variable amounts, suggesting that sequences between nt 714 and the start of the E5a ORF affect expression of the E5a protein. An E2,E5a construct was made to compare the HPV 11 E5a expression to that of HPV 16. In contrast to HPV 16, no E5a-GFP was expressed from the HPV 11 E2,E5a construct. E1wedgeE4 protein was detected by immunofluorescence in COS-7 cells transfected with a construct that expressed E1E4 as a T7-epitope-tagged protein, and E5a as a GFP fusion. We conclude that the abundant HPV 11 E1E4,E5 transcript is a functional message that can support both E1E4 and E5a expression in eukaryotic cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

High-grade dysplasia in genital warts from two patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus.

Cancer-associated human papillomavirus (HPV) types are detected in genital warts removed from immunosuppressed individuals more commonly than from those occurring in otherwise healthy individuals. The prognosis of genital warts containing cancer-associated HPV types is not known. Because it is assumed that genital warts are benign lesions, they are usually treated by destructive therapies without prior knowledge of histopathology. The aim of the present study was to determine whether genital warts from individuals with or without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) contain high-risk HPV types or areas of dysplasia. The study design was a nonrandomized analysis of genital warts removed by excision biopsy from 15 HIV-infected patients and 15 HIV-negative patients. The tissue was analyzed for HPV DNA by hybrid capture, and microscopic sections of each biopsy were examined for areas of dysplasia. Genital warts from HIV-infected patients contained cancer-associated ("high risk") HPV types in 9 of 15 cases, including 1 that contained only a high-risk type. High-grade dysplastic abnormalities were present in 2 of the 15 lesions from this group, both of which contained high-risk HPV types. Four genital warts removed from HIV-negative patients contained high-risk HPV types, but none contained dysplastic abnormalities. It is concluded that genital warts from HIV-infected patients often contain high-risk HPV types. Such lesions may exhibit dysplastic changes. The frequency of dysplastic changes in genital warts from HIV-infected patients is not known. Biopsy of genital warts may be indicated prior to additional therapy in HIV-infected patients, and surgical removal should be considered as a preferred treatment option in these patients.

Anus Diseases↗

PubMed1997

Human papillomavirus type 11 neutralization in the athymic mouse xenograft system: correlation with virus-like particle IgG concentration.

Neutralization of virus is likely to be necessary for development of an effective prophylactic vaccine against genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Two New Zealand white rabbits were immunized with purified HPV type 11 (HPV 11) virions in Freund's adjuvant. An enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA) was used to determine the quantity of IgG which recognized the HPV 11 major capsid protein (L1 protein) virus-like particles (VLPs) in the two anti-HPV 11 sera (serum A and serum B). The concentration of HPV 11 L1 VLP-specific IgG in the A and B sera were determined to be 37 and 90 micrograms per ml, respectively. The A and B sera were used in neutralization experiments in the athymic mouse xenograft system with known quantities of purified HPV 11 virions. The concentration of HPV 11 L1 VLP-specific IgG required to neutralize HPV 11 was determined for each antiserum. This concentration of IgG was approximately 700 to 900 ng per ml. This study demonstrates a positive correlation between the level of HPV 11 L1 VLP-specific IgG in animals immunized with HPV 11 virions and neutralization of HPV 11 in the athymic mouse model. Further studies are needed 1) to determine if sera or genital secretions from other species are neutralizing in the athymic mouse xenograft system, and 2) to determine if the VLP ELISA can be used as a reliable substitute for more cumbersome neutralization assays.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Human papillomavirus type 11 (HPV-11) neutralizing antibodies in the serum and genital mucosal secretions of African green monkeys immunized with HPV-11 virus-like particles expressed in yeast.

It has been shown previously that immunization of animals with recombinant virus-like particles (VLPs) consisting of the viral capsid proteins L1 or L1 plus L2 protected animals against experimental viral challenge. However, none of these experimental models addresses the issue of whether systemic immunization with VLPs elicits a neutralizing antibody response in the genital mucosa. Such a response may be necessary to protect the uterine cervix against infection with genital human papillomavirus (HPV) types. African green monkeys systemically immunized with HPV-11 VLPs expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and formulated on aluminum adjuvant elicited high-titered HPV-11 VLP-specific serum antibody responses. Sera from these immunized monkeys neutralized HPV-11 in the athymic mouse xenograft system. Significant levels of HPV-11-neutralizing antibodies also were observed in cervicovaginal secretions. These findings suggest that protection against HPV infection of the uterine cervix may be possible through systemic immunization with HPV VLPs.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Virus-like particles and E1-E4 protein expressed from the human papillomavirus type 11 bicistronic E1-E4-L1 transcript.

Detection of E1-E4 protein in human papillomavirus (HPV 11)-infected tissue is tightly linked to detection of L1 major capsid protein. The only L1-containing transcript identified in HPV 11-infected tissue is the bicistronic E1-E4-L1 mRNA, potentially encoding both the E1-E4 and the L1 proteins. It has not been established that these proteins can be expressed from the E1-E4-L1 transcript. The HPV 11 E1-E4-L1 sequence was cloned by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction into the p1393 vector to produce recombinant baculoviruses. Immunoblots of recombinant baculovirus-infected Sf9 cell lysates demonstrated both the E1-E4 and the L1 proteins. An ELISA was performed on infected Sf9 cells using a monoclonal antibody specific for nondenatured L1, demonstrating that 10 ng of native L1 protein was present per microgram of total nuclear protein. Electron microscopic analysis revealed 50- to 60-nm icosahedral virus-like particles. In vitro transcription/translation was performed using pSPORT constructs containing the E1-E4-L1 sequence or, as controls, monocistronic pSPORT-E1-E4 or L1 constructs. The pSPORT-E1-E4-L1 construct produced the E1-E4 and L1 proteins at a ratio of 17:1. For E1-E4 protein, expression was greater from the pSPORT-E1-E4-L1 construct than from the monocistronic pSPORT-E1-E4 construct. In contrast, more L1 protein was expressed from pSPORT-L1 than from pSPORT-E1-E4-L1. A mutant E1-E4-L1 construct containing no E1-E4 start codon expressed L1 protein in amounts nearly equal to that expressed from the pSPORT-L1 construct. Addition of an antisense oligonucleotide directed at the E1-E4 start codon region to in vitro reactions using pSPORT-E1-E4-L1 was associated with inhibition of E1-E4 protein synthesis and increased translation of L1 protein.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Temporal and histologic relationships of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and human papillomavirus type 11 in the mouse xenograft system.

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is an accessory protein of DNA polymerase delta. This protein is associated with cell cycle progression and can be detected in the replicating cells of normal tissues. Condylomata acuminata are benign epithelial tumors caused by infection with human papillomaviruses and are characterized by abnormal cell proliferation. The athymic mouse xenograft model of HPV 11 infection was used to test the hypothesis that PCNA is induced early in the course of HPV 11 infection and to study the temporal and histologic relationships between detection of PCNA and HPV DNA. Human foreskin tissue was infected with HPV 11 and implanted under the renal capsules of 10 athymic mice. Pairs of mice were sacrificed every week beginning four weeks after implantation. HPV DNA was detected in sections of foreskin implants by in situ hybridization. PCNA was as or more abundant in implants removed at earlier time points than at later time points, whereas HPV DNA became increasingly more abundant with time. PCNA was detected only in basal cells in areas of histologically normal epithelium that were also negative for HPV DNA. In contrast, PCNA was present throughout the epithelium in regions that were HPV DNA-positive. HPV DNA was detected only in differentiated epithelial cells in implants removed at all five time points, but in HPV DNA-positive regions, PCNA was detected with equal intensity in differentiated and undifferentiated cells. The foci of PCNA-positive cells were well demarcated and were larger than, but included, the foci of HPV DNA-positive cells. PCNA may be induced maximally in differentiated epithelium by HPV 11 prior to significant HPV DNA replication.

Animals↗