Oncogenic human papillomaviruses activate the tumor-associated lens epithelial-derived growth factor (LEDGF) gene.

The expression of the human papillomavirus (HPV) E6/E7 oncogenes is crucial for HPV-induced malignant cell transformation. The identification of cellular targets attacked by the HPV oncogenes is critical for our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of HPV-associated carcinogenesis and may open...

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Main Authors: Jenny Leitz, Miriam Reuschenbach, Claudia Lohrey, Anja Honegger, Rosita Accardi, Massimo Tommasino, Manuel Llano, Magnus von Knebel Doeberitz, Karin Hoppe-Seyler, Felix Hoppe-Seyler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2014-03-01
Series:PLoS Pathogens
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1003957
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author Jenny Leitz
Miriam Reuschenbach
Claudia Lohrey
Anja Honegger
Rosita Accardi
Massimo Tommasino
Manuel Llano
Magnus von Knebel Doeberitz
Karin Hoppe-Seyler
Felix Hoppe-Seyler
author_facet Jenny Leitz
Miriam Reuschenbach
Claudia Lohrey
Anja Honegger
Rosita Accardi
Massimo Tommasino
Manuel Llano
Magnus von Knebel Doeberitz
Karin Hoppe-Seyler
Felix Hoppe-Seyler
author_sort Jenny Leitz
collection DOAJ
description The expression of the human papillomavirus (HPV) E6/E7 oncogenes is crucial for HPV-induced malignant cell transformation. The identification of cellular targets attacked by the HPV oncogenes is critical for our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of HPV-associated carcinogenesis and may open novel therapeutic opportunities. Here, we identify the Lens Epithelial-Derived Growth Factor (LEDGF) gene as a novel cellular target gene for the HPV oncogenes. Elevated LEDGF expression has been recently linked to human carcinogenesis and can protect tumor cells towards different forms of cellular stress. We show that intracellular LEDGF mRNA and protein levels in HPV-positive cancer cells are critically dependent on the maintenance of viral oncogene expression. Ectopic E6/E7 expression stimulates LEDGF transcription in primary keratinocytes, at least in part via activation of the LEDGF promoter. Repression of endogenous LEDGF expression by RNA interference results in an increased sensitivity of HPV-positive cancer cells towards genotoxic agents. Immunohistochemical analyses of cervical tissue specimens reveal a highly significant increase of LEDGF protein levels in HPV-positive lesions compared to histologically normal cervical epithelium. Taken together, these results indicate that the E6/E7-dependent maintenance of intracellular LEDGF expression is critical for protecting HPV-positive cancer cells against various forms of cellular stress, including DNA damage. This could support tumor cell survival and contribute to the therapeutic resistance of cervical cancers towards genotoxic treatment strategies in the clinic.
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spelling doaj-art-a8b5d9aa003a411fa6cda92b7f94430c2025-08-20T03:10:07ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Pathogens1553-73661553-73742014-03-01103e100395710.1371/journal.ppat.1003957Oncogenic human papillomaviruses activate the tumor-associated lens epithelial-derived growth factor (LEDGF) gene.Jenny LeitzMiriam ReuschenbachClaudia LohreyAnja HoneggerRosita AccardiMassimo TommasinoManuel LlanoMagnus von Knebel DoeberitzKarin Hoppe-SeylerFelix Hoppe-SeylerThe expression of the human papillomavirus (HPV) E6/E7 oncogenes is crucial for HPV-induced malignant cell transformation. The identification of cellular targets attacked by the HPV oncogenes is critical for our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of HPV-associated carcinogenesis and may open novel therapeutic opportunities. Here, we identify the Lens Epithelial-Derived Growth Factor (LEDGF) gene as a novel cellular target gene for the HPV oncogenes. Elevated LEDGF expression has been recently linked to human carcinogenesis and can protect tumor cells towards different forms of cellular stress. We show that intracellular LEDGF mRNA and protein levels in HPV-positive cancer cells are critically dependent on the maintenance of viral oncogene expression. Ectopic E6/E7 expression stimulates LEDGF transcription in primary keratinocytes, at least in part via activation of the LEDGF promoter. Repression of endogenous LEDGF expression by RNA interference results in an increased sensitivity of HPV-positive cancer cells towards genotoxic agents. Immunohistochemical analyses of cervical tissue specimens reveal a highly significant increase of LEDGF protein levels in HPV-positive lesions compared to histologically normal cervical epithelium. Taken together, these results indicate that the E6/E7-dependent maintenance of intracellular LEDGF expression is critical for protecting HPV-positive cancer cells against various forms of cellular stress, including DNA damage. This could support tumor cell survival and contribute to the therapeutic resistance of cervical cancers towards genotoxic treatment strategies in the clinic.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1003957
spellingShingle Jenny Leitz
Miriam Reuschenbach
Claudia Lohrey
Anja Honegger
Rosita Accardi
Massimo Tommasino
Manuel Llano
Magnus von Knebel Doeberitz
Karin Hoppe-Seyler
Felix Hoppe-Seyler
Oncogenic human papillomaviruses activate the tumor-associated lens epithelial-derived growth factor (LEDGF) gene.
PLoS Pathogens
title Oncogenic human papillomaviruses activate the tumor-associated lens epithelial-derived growth factor (LEDGF) gene.
title_full Oncogenic human papillomaviruses activate the tumor-associated lens epithelial-derived growth factor (LEDGF) gene.
title_fullStr Oncogenic human papillomaviruses activate the tumor-associated lens epithelial-derived growth factor (LEDGF) gene.
title_full_unstemmed Oncogenic human papillomaviruses activate the tumor-associated lens epithelial-derived growth factor (LEDGF) gene.
title_short Oncogenic human papillomaviruses activate the tumor-associated lens epithelial-derived growth factor (LEDGF) gene.
title_sort oncogenic human papillomaviruses activate the tumor associated lens epithelial derived growth factor ledgf gene
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1003957
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