Human papillomavirus type 16 expression in cervical keratinocytes: role of progesterone and glucocorticoid hormones.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of the steroid hormones, progesterone and glucocorticoids, and the viral hormone response elements, in the episomal expression of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 in primary human ectocervical cells.
METHODS: In situ hybridization and mutagenesis were used to assess the requirements of these hormones and the HPV 16 glucocorticoid/progesterone response elements in the induction of HPV 16 expression in ectocervical cells.
RESULTS: The assays detected a marked increase in viral messenger RNA only after treatment of the cells with either of the steroid hormones. This response was inhibited by the anti-progestin RU 486 in a concentration-dependent manner. Mutagenesis of the previously identified hormone response element in the regulatory region of the HPV 16 genome had no effect on hormone-induced HPV gene expression. We have now identified two additional hormone response elements. Different combinations of mutations in the three hormone response elements showed that all three were independently sufficient for the hormone-mediated induction of viral transcription.
CONCLUSIONS: Steroid hormones induce HPV 16 gene expression in cervical keratinocytes directly through three hormone response elements in the regulatory region of the viral genome. The anti-progestin RU 486 inhibits this induction. Because the physical state of HPV DNA in this in vitro system and in premalignant cervical lesions is extrachromosomal, steroid hormones may have a critical role in modulating HPV expression in such lesions.