Original Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2001. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 15, 2001; 7(6): 788-791
Published online Dec 15, 2001. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v7.i6.788
Human papillomavirus 16 E6 is associated with the nuclear matrix of esophageal carcinoma cells
Hai-Bin Chen, Ling Chen, Jin-Kun Zhang, Zhong-Ying Shen, Zhong-Jing Su, S.B. Cheng, E.C. Chew
Hai-Bin Chen, Department of Histology and Embryology, Tumor Pathology L aboratory, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515031, Guangdong Provinc e, China
Hai-Bin Chen, Ling Chen, Jin-Kun Zhang, Zhong-Ying Shen, Zhong-Jing Su, , Tumor Pathology L aboratory, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515031, Guangdong Province, China
S.B. Cheng, E.C. Chew, Department of Physiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT. Hong Kong, China
E.C. Chew, Department of Anatomy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT. Hong Kong, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 990799 and Medical Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, No. B19 97083.
Correspondence to: Dr. Hai Bin Chen, Department of Histology and Embryology, Shantou University Medical College, 22 Xinlinglu, Shantou 515031, Guangdong Province, China. chenhb@stu.edu.cn
Telephone: +86-754-8900443, Fax: +86-754-8557562
Received: September 26, 2001
Revised: October 19, 2001
Accepted: October 29, 2001
Published online: December 15, 2001
Abstract

AIM: To explore the etiologic role of HPV infection in esophageal carcinoma, and the association of HPV-16 E6 with the nuclear matrix of carcinoma cells.

METHODS: Two esophageal carcinoma cell lines, EC/CUHK1 and EC/CUHK2, were tested for HPV-16 E6 subgenetic fragment by polymer a se chain reaction amplification of virus DNA associated nuclear matrix. RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry were also used to visualize the expression of E6 subgene in the cells.

RESULTS: The HPV-16 E6 subgenetic fragment was found to be present in nuclear matrix-associated DNA, E6 oncoprotein localized in the nucleus where it is tightly associated with nuclear matrix after sequential extraction in EC/CUHK2 cells. It was not detected, however, in EC/CUHK1 cells.

CONCLUSION: The interaction between HPV-16 E6 and nuclear matrix may contribute to the virus induced carcinogenesis in esophageal carcinoma.

Keywords: Esophageal neoplasms/virology; Esophaheal neoplasms/pathology; Tumor cells, cultured; Papillomavirus, human; Nuclear matrix