T. Suzuki et al., SPONTANEOUS MUTATION OF P53 GENE IN HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS TYPE-16 E7-IMMORTALIZED HUMAN LARYNGEAL EPITHELIAL-CELLS, Acta oto-laryngologica, 1996, pp. 94-98
The E7 gene is one of the principle transforming genes of human papill
omavirus type 16 (HPV 16). In this study, we show that HPV 16 E7 gene
could immortalize in vitro primary human laryngeal epithelial cells (H
LEC cells) without cooperation of the viral E6 gene. The HPV 16 E7-imm
ortalized HLEC cell line had acquired a mutation of a tumor suppressor
gene, p53, during the immortalization process. Using immunofluorescen
ce assay, nuclear accumulation of p53 protein was found in the cell li
ne. These results suggest that HLEC cells can be immortalized in vitro
by the cooperative activities of HPV 16 E7 gene and a spontaneous mut
ation of the endogeneous p53 gene.