Anna Pańczyszyn1, Ewa Boniewska-Bernacka2, Grzegorz Głąb3. 1. University of Opole, Institute of Medical Sciences, Poland. 2. University of Opole, Institute of Medical Sciences, Poland. Electronic address: boniesia@uni.opole.pl. 3. Public Higher Medical Professional School in Opole, Poland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Persistent high-risk HPV (HR HPV) infection leads to the development of squamous intraepithelial lesions, which in turn may progress to cervical cancer. Telomere elongation or shortening may indicate a carcinogenesis process. In the present study, we analyzed telomere length from blood and cervical smears of women without and with high-risk HPV infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Telomere length was quantified by real-time PCR in blood and cervical smears from 48 women with high-risk HPV infection and HGSIL or LGSIL, 29 women HR-HPV positive without SIL, and 11 HPV-negative women. RESULTS: No correlation was found between age and telomere length in blood and cervical smears. Women with high-risk HPV infection had shorter telomeres in cervical smears, but not in blood compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that telomere shortening occurs in cervical cells of women with HR HPV infection both with LGSIL and HGSIL and may indicate the onset of carcinogenesis. In turn, there is no correlation between leukocyte telomere length and cervical cancer risk in women with HR HPV infection.
OBJECTIVE: Persistent high-risk HPV (HR HPV) infection leads to the development of squamous intraepithelial lesions, which in turn may progress to cervical cancer. Telomere elongation or shortening may indicate a carcinogenesis process. In the present study, we analyzed telomere length from blood and cervical smears of women without and with high-risk HPV infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Telomere length was quantified by real-time PCR in blood and cervical smears from 48 women with high-risk HPV infection and HGSIL or LGSIL, 29 women HR-HPV positive without SIL, and 11 HPV-negative women. RESULTS: No correlation was found between age and telomere length in blood and cervical smears. Women with high-risk HPV infection had shorter telomeres in cervical smears, but not in blood compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that telomere shortening occurs in cervical cells of women with HR HPV infection both with LGSIL and HGSIL and may indicate the onset of carcinogenesis. In turn, there is no correlation between leukocyte telomere length and cervical cancer risk in women with HR HPV infection.
Authors: Ewa Boniewska-Bernacka; Anna Pańczyszyn; Jacek Hobot; Piotr Donizy; Zbigniew Ziembik; Anna Goc; Marian Klinger Journal: Genes (Basel) Date: 2022-04-15 Impact factor: 4.141