[Expression purification and clinical application of high-risk HPV16 E4 gene]

To determine the relationship between serum antibody against HPV16 E4 and cervical cancer, and to construct HPV 16 E4 protein expression vector as an antigen to detect its corresponding serum antibody among different populations.

HPV16 E4 early gene was ligated into pRSET-A expression vector. The constructed plasmids were transformed into BL21 (DE3)cells, and induced to express HPV 16 E4 protein by isopropylthio-beta-D-galactoside (IPTG). The expressed E4 inclusions were denatured, purified through Ni-column, and renatured. After the activity was revealed, antibodies against HPV 16 E4 in the sera from healthy women and patients with chronic cervicitis and cervical cancer were respectively determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the fusion protein as the antigen.

HPV 16 E4 fusion protein of Mr 15*10(3) was expressed by pRSET-16E4 after IPTG induction. The fusion protein accounted for 30% of the total bacterial proteins and expressed as inclusive body. After purification with Ni-NTA agarose resin, the recombinant protein revealed purity of 95%, and activity of the renatured protein was identified by ELISA. The serum antibody-positive rate of HPV 16 E4 was 10.00%, 39.13% and 28.13%, respectively in 80 healthy women, 46 chronic cervicitis patients, and 32 cervical cancer patients. The antibody-positive rate in cervical cancer patients and chronic cervicitis patients were significantly higher than that in healthy women (P<0.01), while the difference between the antibody-positive rate in cervical cancer patients and chronic cervicitis patients was not significant.

HPV 16 E4 protein expressed from pRSET-A/BL21 can be used in serological studies on cervical cancer-related HPV infection. Serum antibody against HPV16 E4 is present in a significantly higher percentage in cervical cancer and chronic cervicitis patients than in healthy women.