Possible association between HPV16 E7 protein level and cytokeratin 19

The mechanisms employed by human papillomaviruses (HPVs) to control the replication of the viral genome and the expression of the viral genes are extremely complex and further complicated by the fact that the viral life cycle is intricately tied to the differentiation program of its host epithelial tissue. Indeed, HPV-induced immortalization of keratinocytes and disruption of the normal cytokeratin (CK) expression pattern progress pari passu during the stepwise process that preludes to squamous cell carcinoma. In our study, we have analyzed the interaction occurring between HPV type 16 E7 mRNA and the intermediate cytokeratin filaments 7 and 19 and report data in favor of a possible association between HPV16 E7 protein level and CK19.