The human papillomavirus type 16 E5 protein modulates ERK1/2 and p38 MAP kinase activation by an EGFR-independent process in stressed human keratinocytes.

The human papillomavirus type 16 E5 gene product has been shown to upregulate the activation of MAP kinases ERK1/2 and cellular proliferation promoted by EGF in a ligand-dependent process. We now report the growth factor-independent modulation of MAP kinases by HPV 16 E5 in human keratinocytes. After treatment with 600 mM sorbitol or low concentrations of anisomycin, E5-expressing cells upregulate the activation of ERK1/2. In addition, E5 enhances p38 activation after anisomycin but not after sorbitol treatment, but it has no effect on MAP kinases activation after shocking the cells with 300 mM sodium chloride. The E5-mediated, sorbitol-dependent increase in ERK1/2 activation is EGF-independent and is only partially inhibited by tyrphostin AG1478, which is known to inhibit specifically EGF receptor activation.