The Role of E6 Spliced Isoforms (E6*) in Human Papillomavirus-Induced Carcinogenesis
Leslie Olmedo-Nieva,
J. Omar Muñoz-Bello,
Adriana Contreras-Paredes,
Marcela Lizano
Affiliations
Leslie Olmedo-Nieva
Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, México/Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. San Fernando No. 22, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
J. Omar Muñoz-Bello
Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, México/Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. San Fernando No. 22, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
Adriana Contreras-Paredes
Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, México/Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. San Fernando No. 22, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
Marcela Lizano
Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, México/Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. San Fernando No. 22, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
Persistent infections with High Risk Human Papillomaviruses (HR-HPVs) are the main cause of cervical cancer development. The E6 and E7 oncoproteins of HR-HPVs are derived from a polycistronic pre-mRNA transcribed from an HPV early promoter. Through alternative splicing, this pre-mRNA produces a variety of E6 spliced transcripts termed E6*. In pre-malignant lesions and HPV-related cancers, different E6/E6* transcriptional patterns have been found, although they have not been clearly associated to cancer development. Moreover, there is a controversy about the participation of E6* proteins in cancer progression. This review addresses the regulation of E6 splicing and the different functions that have been found for E6* proteins, as well as their possible role in HPV-induced carcinogenesis.
