E6 proteins from diverse cutaneous HPV types inhibit apoptosis in responseto UV damage

In addition to their role in anogenital cancer, human papillomaviruses (HPV s) are also involved in the development of a range of cutaneous lesions. HP V types 5 and 8 are associated with the development of skin cancers in indi viduals with Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV). A broad spectrum of NPV types are also commonly found in non-melanoma skin cancers in immunocomprom ised individuals, such as organ transplant recipients. The skin cancers in EV and immunocompromised patients occur predominantly at body sites exposed to ultra violet (UV) radiation, pointing to a key role for UV in their dev elopment, Here rye show that the E6 protein from a range of cutaneous NPV t ypes effectively inhibits apoptosis in response to UV damage, This occurs i n both p53 null and wild type cells and does not require p53 degradation.