Human gene expression microarray analysis of the HPV 6bE7-HaCaT stable cell line

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Virology
• Genomics

Background:

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection.
• HPV6b, a low-risk type, typically causes benign lesions but is sometimes linked to high-grade lesions and cancer.
• The precise role of HPV6b infection and its E7 protein in disease pathogenesis remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the gene expression signature of a stable HaCaT cell line transfected with the HPV6b E7 gene.
• To identify differentially expressed genes regulated by the HPV6b E7 protein.
• To gain a deeper understanding of HPV6b infection mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Established a stable HaCaT cell line expressing the HPV6b E7 gene.
• Performed genome-wide expression profiling using microarray analysis.
• Validated differentially expressed genes with quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).
• Utilized Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analyses for functional annotation.

Main Results:

• Identified 3519 significantly differentially expressed genes (1884 up-regulated, 1635 down-regulated).
• Confirmed microarray findings for top differentially expressed genes (e.g., SIMC1, S100A8, S100A9 up-regulated; PXDN down-regulated) via qRT-PCR.
• GO analysis highlighted impacts on heart induction and histone H4-K20 demethylation.
• KEGG analysis revealed significant alterations in primary bile acid biosynthesis and systemic lupus erythematosus pathways.

Conclusions:

• The study characterized the global gene expression profile of HPV6b E7-expressing cells.
• Revealed specific genes and pathways regulated by the HPV6b E7 protein.
• Provided valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying HPV6b infection pathogenesis.