The cigarette smoke carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene enhances human papillomavirus synthesis

Samina Alam, Michael J. Conway, Horng Shen Chen, Craig Meyers

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

99 Scopus citations

Abstract

Epidemiological studies suggest that cigarette smoke carcinogens are cofactors which synergize with human papillomavirus (HPV) to increase the risk of cervical cancer progression. Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a major carcinogen in cigarette smoke, is detected in the cervical mucus and may interact with HPV. Exposure of cervical cells to high concentrations of BeP resulted in a 10-fold increase in HPV type 31 (HPV31) viral titers, whereas treatment with low concentrations of BaP resulted in an increased number of HPV genome copies but not an increase in virion morphogenesis. BaP exposure also increased HPV16 and HPV18 viral titers. Overall, BaP modulation of the HPV life cycle could potentially enhance viral persistence, host tissue carcinogenesis, and permissiveness for cancer progression.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1053-1058
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of virology
Volume82
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2008

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Insect Science
  • Virology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The cigarette smoke carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene enhances human papillomavirus synthesis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this