DNA-PLOIDY AND HPV INFECTION IN EPITHELIAL LESIONS OF THE LOWER FEMALE GENITAL-TRACT

DNA content was related to the type of human papillomaviruses (HPV) in a series of 87 lesions of the lower female genital tract. Nineteen co ndylomas, 32 biopsies with slight dysplasia, 19 with moderate dysplasi a and 17 with severe dysplasia-carcinoma in situ were studied. HPV sta tus was assessed by in situ hybrization (ISH) with biotinylated probes (HPV 6/11, 16/18, 31/35/51) and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) ( HPV 16,18). DNA ploidy was measured by Feulgen DNA cytophotometry. Pos itivity for HPV by ISH and PCR was obtained in 48% and 59% of the biop sies, respectively. Seventy-eight per cent of the lesions were diploid or tetraploid and the remaining 22% were aneuploid. The percentage of aneuploid DNA increased with the severity of the lesions. By comparin g DNA-ploidy and HPV types by ISH, diploid DNA was more frequently fou nd in HPV 6/11 positive lesions (93%) than in HPV 16/18 positive (81%) or HPV 31/35/51 positive (57%). PCR was more sensitive for detecting HPV in aneuploid dysplastic lesions than ISH, probably indicating the HPV copies are scarce in such lesions. In summary, the results indicat e some relationship between aneuploidy and HPV types 16/18 and 31/35/5 1, which supports an oncogenic potential of these subtypes of HPV.