Expression of HPV-16 E6 and E7 oncoproteins alters Chlamydia trachomatis developmental cycle and induces increased levels of immune regulatory molecules

OLIVERA, CAROLINA; MOSMANN, JESSICA P.; ANNA, AILEN N.; BETTUCCI FERRERO, GLORIA N.; PAIRA, DANIELA A.; FERREYRA, FERNANDO N.; MARTINEZ, MARÍA S.; MOTRICH, RUBÉN D.; CUFFINI, CECILIA G.; SAKA, HÉCTOR ALEX; RIVERO, VIRGINIA E.

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

Frontiers Media

Año: 2023 vol. 13

ntroduction: Infection with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a recognized risk factor for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection and vice versa. Coinfection of HPV and CT in women is a very common and usually asymptomatic finding that has been linked to increased risk of cervical cancer. It has been demonstrated that CT facilitates the entry of multiple high risk HPV genotypes, leading to damage of the mucosal barrier and interfering with immune responses and viral clearance, which ultimately favours viral persistence and malignant transformation. Although the facilitating effects elicited by CT infection on viral persistence have been reported, little is known about the consequences of HPV infection on CT development.Methods: Herein, we took advantage of a genetically modified human cervical cell line co-expressing HPV-16 major oncogenic proteins E6 and E7, as an experimental model allowing to investigate the possible effects that HPV infection would have on CT development.Results and dis