PAPILLOMAVIRUSES AND POTENTIAL COPATHOGENS

An in vitro multistage genital epithelial cell model for cervical canc er that parallels the in vivo neoplastic process has been developed us ing recombinant human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA and genital cells. HPV- 16-immortalized genital cells are responsive to the genotoxic action o f known chemical carcinogens (polycyclic hydrocarbons, alkylating agen ts or cigarette smoke condensate), but are not converted to malignancy . Ras oncogene and human herpes virus-2 did convert HPV immortalized c ells to malignancy, whereas human herpes virus-6 infection only increa sed HPV expression. Human immunodeficiency virus did not infect genita l cells.