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Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Use of Interferon-γ Enzyme-linked Immunospot Assay to Characterize Novel T-cell Epitopes of Human Papillomavirus
Published on: March 8, 2012
Cidofovir induces an increase in levels of low-risk and high-risk HPV E6
Adam J Donne1, Lynne Hampson, Xiaotong T He
1University of Manchester Gynaecological Oncology Laboratories, St. Mary's Hospital, Hathersage Road, Manchester M13 OJH, United Kingdom.
Background:
Cidofovir is a nucleoside analogue that is used off-license to treat recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) caused by HPV6/11. However, the effect of this drug upon low-risk HPV 6/11 gene expression is unknown.
Methods:
The expression of E6 was evaluated by RT-PCR in HPV-ve C33A cervical carcinoma cells stably transfected with both low- and high-risk HPV E6 cDNA's and in SiHa (HPV16+ve) cervical carcinoma cells after treatment with 2 doses and durations of exposure to cidofovir.
Results:
Compared to the vector only transcript, E6 RNA levels showed an 8-fold increase in low-risk and 20-fold increase in high-risk E6-expressing cells. High-risk E6 protein levels were also detected by Western blot in cidofovir-treated C33A Type16 E6-transfected cells.
Conclusion:
These data may indicate a potential rationale for increased risk of genetic instability and thus transformation due to drug-induced increase in the level of E6.
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