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Journal of Virology, October 2004, p. 10738-10746, Vol. 78, No. 19
0022-538X/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JVI.78.19.10738-10746.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

The Human Papillomavirus Type 8 E2 Protein Suppresses ß4-Integrin Expression in Primary Human Keratinocytes

Monika Oldak,^1,2 Hans Smola,^3, Monique Aumailley,⁴ Francisco Rivero,⁴ Herbert Pfister,¹ and Sigrun Smola-Hess^1*

Institute of Virology,¹ Department of Dermatology,³ Center for Biochemistry and Center of Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany,⁴ Center of Biostructure Research, Department of Histology and Embryology, Warsaw Medical University, Warsaw, Poland²

Received 13 February 2004/ Accepted 1 June 2004

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) infect keratinocytes of skin and mucosa. Homeostasis of these constantly renewing, stratified epithelia is maintained by balanced keratinocyte proliferation and terminal differentiation. Instructions from the extracellular matrix engaging integrins strongly regulate these keratinocyte functions. The papillomavirus life cycle parallels the differentiation program of stratified epithelia, and viral progeny is produced only in terminally differentiating keratinocytes. Whereas papillomavirus oncoproteins can inhibit keratinocyte differentiation, the viral transcription factor E2 seems to counterbalance the impact of oncoproteins. In this study we show that high expression of HPV type 8 (HPV8) E2 in cultured primary keratinocytes leads to strong down-regulation of ß4-integrin expression levels, partial reduction of ß1-integrin, and detachment of transfected keratinocytes from underlying structures. Unlike HPV18 E2-expressing keratinocytes, HPV8 E2 transfectants did not primarily undergo apoptosis. HPV8 E2 partially suppressed ß4-integrin promoter activity by binding to a specific E2 binding site leading to displacement of at least one cellular DNA binding factor. To our knowledge, we show for the first time that specific E2 binding contributes to regulation of a cellular promoter. In vivo, decreased ß4-integrin expression is associated with detachment of keratinocytes from the underlying basement membrane and their egress from the basal to suprabasal layers. In papillomavirus disease, ß4-integrin down-regulation in keratinocytes with higher E2 expression may push virally infected cells into the transit-amplifying compartment and ensure their commitment to the differentiation process required for virus replication.

Present address: Nestlé Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland.

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