Da. Thompson et al., The HPV E7 oncoprotein inhibits tumor necrosis factor alpha-mediated apoptosis in normal human fibroblasts, ONCOGENE, 20(28), 2001, pp. 3629-3640
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) is a cytokine that induces programmed cel
l death, apoptosis, in a number of cell types and is employed by cytotoxic
T cells to eliminate virus infected cells. Consequently, many viruses have
acquired mechanisms to undermine these host cell defense mechanisms and cau
se resistance to TNF-mediated apoptosis, Here we show that normal human dip
loid fibroblasts that express the human papillomavirus type 16 E7 oncoprote
in have a decreased propensity to undergo apoptosis in response to TNF trea
tment. The ability of E7 to undermine TNF-mediated apoptosis correlates wit
h cellular transformation. While E7 does not generally subvert signaling by
tumor necrosis factor receptor I, pro-caspase 8 activation is decreased in
E7-expressing cells, E7 also provides some protection from apoptosis cause
d by stimulation of the TNF receptor 1-related cytokine receptor Fas, where
induction of apoptosis occurs much slower in this cell type. Hence, E7-exp
ressing normal human fibroblasts exhibit specific defect that obstructs cyt
okine-mediated activation of pro-caspase 8 and apoptosis.