Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals cell type-specific HPV expression in hyperplastic skin lesions

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Dermatology
• Immunology

Background:

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a prevalent global infection.
• High-risk HPV types are linked to cervical, oral, and head/neck cancers.
• Persistent cutaneous HPV infection exacerbates conditions in immunosuppressed individuals, increasing wart and skin cancer risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the molecular mechanisms linking immunosuppression, HPV expression, and excessive epidermal proliferation.
• To overcome limitations of low-sensitivity methods in detecting rare viral transcription events in cutaneous lesions.

Main Methods:

• Single-cell RNA sequencing was employed to profile HPV-positive skin lesions.
• The study focused on an immunosuppressed patient with persistent cutaneous HPV infection.

Main Results:

• Alphapapillomavirus HPV78 was detected in basal keratinocytes, suprabasal keratinocytes, and hair follicle stem cells.
• This study successfully captured rare viral transcription events in cutaneous lesions.

Conclusions:

• Single-cell RNA sequencing is a viable method for detecting and investigating HPV transcripts in skin lesions.
• This approach can uncover mechanistic links between immunosuppression-induced HPV lifecycle and epidermal hyperproliferation.