Laryngeal papilloma cells in culture have an altered cytoskeleton

We have investigated the effect of human papillomavirus (HPV) transformation on cellular cytoarchitecture. Cells from laryngeal papillomas and normal epithelium were cultured in vitro. Cytoskeletal components of both types of cells were visualized by immunofluorescence, to determine whether there were any differences in the structure or distribution of the cytoskeleton. There was no significant change in microtubules. Two major components of the cytoskeleton, the intermediate filaments and the microfilaments, were altered in the papilloma cells. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of isolated keratins showed differences between normal and papilloma tissue, which might explain the altered intermediate filament distribution. The changes in cytoskeletal structure may be one way in which HPVs alter cellular growth controls.