[The biology of papillomavirus infections. III. Immune response]

Infection with the human papillomaviruses, especially with oncogenic HPVs increases the risk for development of precancerous and cancerous lesions of the cervix. The immune response of the host is likely to be an important factor in determining regression or progression of papillomaviruses-associated lesions. Systemic IgG and IgA response is classically associated with current or past papillomavirus infections. A deficiency in local cellular immune response is however frequently observed and linked to a decrease of cytokine synthesis by infected cells, a reduction or loss of MCH I molecules and a defect in antigen presentation to cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Although secretory immunoglobulins are generated locally in response to papillomavirus infections, humoral immunity in the female genital reproductive tract seems to be inefficient. The papillomavirus infections would lead to a decrease in cellular immunity which could be favourable to viral latency and/or precancerous and cancerous lesion development.