A Human Xenograft Model to Study the Interaction of Sexually Transmitted Viruses

摘要

Recent epidemiological studies have found that women infected with both herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and human papillomavirus are at greater risk of developing cervical carcinoma compared to women infected with HPV alone (4). However, it remains unclear if HSV-2 is a cofactor for cervical cancer or if HPV and HSV-2 interact in any way. We have studied the effect of HSV-2 infection on HPV 11 gene expression in an in vitro double-infection assay. HPV transcripts were suppressed in response to HSV-2 infection as a result of the virion associated host shut off protein (vhs). The effect of HSV-2 infection on preexisting experimental papillomas was demonstrated in vivo in a vaginal epithelial xenograft model. Doubly infected grafts demonstrated papillomatous transformation and the classical cytopathic effect from HSV-2 infection. HPV and HSV DNA signals were mutually exclusive.