Evidence for papillomavirus genus-specific antigens and DNA in laryngeal papilloma

Four juvenile laryngeal papillomas (JLPs) were examined for papillomavirus genus-specific structural antigens and polynucleotide sequences employing reagents derived from bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1). Three of four JLPs contained intranuclear antigens in the granular layer of differentiating epithelial cells of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded papillomas assayed by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase reaction using an antiserum prepared against purified detergent-disrupted BPV-1. Examination of these JLPs for viral sequences indicated two tumor DNA preparations contained polynucleotide sequences which hybridized to an in vitro labeled BPV-1 DNA probe under nonstringent conditions. These sequences were detectable after gel electrophoresis and immobilization of restriction-endonuclease-digested JLP DNAs onto nitrocellulose membranes. Specific hybridization of probe to digested JLP DNA was visualized as bands in autoradiograms coincidental with open circular and linearized papillomavirus DNA. Hybridization was extensively reduced when JLP DNA preparations were prehybridized to an unlabeled papillomavirus DNA heterologous to the probe. These results provide direct evidence for the association of a papillomavirus in JLP.