The effect of vaginal microbes on in vivo and in vitro expression of humanpapillomavirus 16 E6-E7 genes

Since other viruses can influence expression of human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 E6-E7 genes iii vitro, this study addressed whether specific vaginal bac teria do so as well. The vaginal microflora of 18 women with cervical intra epithelial neoplasia (CIN) or normal histology and HPV 16 infection, was ev aluated by quantitative culture. Expression of HPV 16 E6-E7 oncogenes was a ssessed in exfoliated cervical cells by quantitative polymerase chain react ion. HPV 16 expression was also quantitated in CaSki carcinoma cell line co cultured with Bacteroides fragilis or Lactobacillus acidophilus. isolation of Lactobacillus sp. (p = 0.05) and expression of the E6*II transcript (p = 0.03) were associated with low-grade CIN or normal histology. However, cha nges in E6-E7 expression were not associated independently with isolation o f a specific microorganism. Similarly, expression of HPV 16 E6-E7 oncogenes in vitro was unaltered in the presence of bacteria. These results suggest that vaginal microorganisms are unlikely to alter the natural history of HP V-associated CIN by influencing HPV oncogene expression.