Original Paper

Expression of the MCP-1 Gene and the HPV 16 E6/E7 Oncogenes in Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Cervix uteri and Metastases
Sabine Riethdorf, Lutz Riethdorf, Nicole Richter, Thomas Löning

Department of Gynecopathology, University Hospital Hamburg, Germany

Address of Corresponding Author

Pathobiology 1998;66:260-267 (DOI: 10.1159/000028032)

  Key Words

• Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1
• MCP-1
• Human papillomavirus
• HPV 16
• E6/E7 oncogenes
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Cervix uteri
• Metastases
• RNA/RNA in situ hybridization

  Abstract

Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) plays an important role in the recruitment of monocytes in solid tumors. Previously, for cervical carcinoma cell lines an inverse correlation between the expression of the MCP-1 gene and the human papillomavirus (HPV) oncogenes E6/E7 was described. In this study paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens from 25 squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix uteri were analyzed for the expression of the MCP-1 gene and the HPV 16 E6/E7 oncogenes by RNA/RNA in situ hybridization. Similar to in vitro analyses, in our material a negative correlation between the transcription of these genes in tumor cells could be demonstrated in 19/25 cases, whereas in 6 cases both MCP-1 gene and HPV oncogene transcription could be detected. Interestingly, the same results regarding MCP-1 gene and HPV oncogene expression were observed in the majority of corresponding metastases. On the other hand, in stromal cells MCP-1-specific transcripts could be detected in all cases. In most of them intra- and/or peritumoral macrophages were observed. Our findings support the hypothesis that HPV oncoproteins are negative regulators of MCP-1 transcription.

  Author Contacts

Prof. Dr. Thomas Löning
Abteilung für Gynäkopathologie, Universitäts-Frauenklinik
Martinistrasse 52, D-20246 Hamburg (Germany)
Tel. +49 40 4717 2536, Fax +49 40 4717 2556
E-Mail riethdor@plexus.uke.uni-hamburg.de

  Article Information

Received: Received: April 10, 1998
Accepted: May 1, 1998
Number of Print Pages : 8
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 37