EFFECT OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS INFECTION ON ESTROGEN-RECEPTOR AND HEAT-SHOCK PROTEIN-HSP27 PHENOTYPE IN HUMAN CERVIX AND VAGINA

In this study we have explored whether, as a consequence of human papi llomavirus (HPV) infection, there is inappropriate expression of estro gen receptor and/or of a small heat shock protein of 27,000 daltons (h sp27). Estrogen receptor, hsp27, and HPV structural antigens were dete cted by immunocytochemistry, while HPV DNA (6/11, 16/18, 31/35/51) was determined by in situ hybridization in cervical and vaginal samples f rom 40 patients. Most of the samples with HPV infection without atypia showed a shift in estrogen receptor expression since this protein app eared mainly in the intermediate and superficial cell layers. In the s erial sections, these layers displayed strong estrogen receptor staini ng, together with high HPV replication and late HPV gene expression. I n the samples with HPV infection and atypia, estrogen receptors were a lso frequently found in the basal and parabasal cells, but almost 20% of these samples did not show estrogen receptors. The presence of high estrogen receptor expression was not dependent on a particular HPV DN A type. On the other hand, interesting modifications in hsp27 expressi on were observed in the HPV-infected tissues. The cytoplasm of the cel ls with koilocytotic changes showed very low hsp27 content. In several samples this protein appeared in the nuclei of the superficial cells, and sometimes it was also observed in the cytoplasm of the basal cell s. These changes in estrogen receptor and hsp27 expression suggest tha t these proteins might have a role in virus-host biology.