Mediators of Inflammation (Jan 2011)

HPV16E6-Dependent c-Fos Expression Contributes to AP-1 Complex Formation in SiHa Cells

  • Feixin Liang,
  • Shinichiro Kina,
  • Hiroyuki Takemoto,
  • Akira Matayoshi,
  • Thongsavanh Phonaphonh,
  • Nao Sunagawa,
  • Keiichi Arakaki,
  • Akira Arasaki,
  • Hai Kuang,
  • Hajime Sunakawa

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/263216
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2011

Abstract

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To date, the major role of HPV16E6 in cancer has been considered to be its ability to inhibit the p53 tumor-suppressor protein, thereby thwarting p53-mediated cytotoxic responses to cellular stress signals. Here, we show that HPV16E6-dependent c-fos oncogenic protein expression contributes to AP-1 complex formation under oxidative stress in SiHa cells (HPV16-positive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix). In addition, we examined the role of HPV16E6 in TGF-α-induced c-fos expression and found that the c-fos protein expression induced by TGF-α is HPV16E6 dependent. Thus, our results provide the first evidence that HPV16E6 contributes to AP-1 complex formation after both ligand-dependent and independent EGFR activation, suggesting a new therapeutic approach to the treatment of HPV-associated tumors.