Detection of human papilloma virus in tumorous and inflamed tissues of theeye

Background Infections by the human papillomavirus occur in the skin and in the mucosa. They may play a significant role in the neoplastic transformati on of cells. At least half of all the epithelial tumours of the ocular surf ace and the lacrimal drainage system have been shown to be HPV associated. However, in ca. 50% of these turners only a limited number of mukosal HPV t ypes could be detected by commercially available test systems. This study r eports of HPV specific sequences in putatively HPV associated tumorous and inflamed tissues of the eve. Materials and Methods 32 biopsies of 26 patients suffering from chronic hyp erplastic lesions of the lid, conjunctiva and lacrimal drainage system were examined using DNA extraction, amplification of HPV specific sequences by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR),cloning and sequencing of the PCR pr oducts. Results Ten HPV types could be detected in 11 biopsies of 8 patients with p apillo-mas, seborrheic and actinic keratosis, dacryocystitis and syringoma. In 5 of 9 histologically verified papillomas HPV 6, 20, 23, DL 332 (HPV 5b -related), DL 284 (HPV 20-related) and NN-AA44 were detected, HPV 5b, 38 an d DL 284 in seborrheic keratoses, HPV 36 in actinic keratosis, NN-AA44 und NN-AA45 in dacryocystitis and HPV 20, 23 and DL 332 in syringoma. Conclusions The DNA techniques used in this study represent important metho ds for the detection of HPV types and allow an association of HPV types wit h defined tumours and inflammations of the eye. In two of the biopsies puta tively new HPV types could be identified.