Persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, like that of HPV16, is linked to the development of cervical and several other cancers. The HPV family of viruses establishes persistent infections because it has evolved mechanisms that allow it to evade the human immune system. The long-term goal of this study is to understand how HPV evades the immune system in order to find new ways to treat HPV infection and associated diseases. One of the potential mechanisms by which HPV escapes immunity is inducing tolerance via antigen presentation in the absence of co-stimulation by Langerhans cells (LC), the antigen-presenting cells at the site of HPV infections. Preliminary data shown here suggest that the L2 minor capsid protein may mediate immune escape by interacting with a specific receptor on LC thereby suppressing the maturation of LC and that it may be possible to activate HPV-exposed LC with Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists. However it is unknown whether these TLR agonists will be potent enough to overcome the suppressive effects of HPV-exposed LC on T cells and induce HPV-specific T cell responses. We hypothesize that: 1) To escape T cell immunity, HPV16 L2 suppresses the maturation of LC through interaction with the cell surface receptor ANXA2;and 2) The use of immune-modulating compounds will enable reversal of the immune-suppressive phenotype and function of HPV-exposed LC from cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) patients, and induce activation of HPV-specific T cells. To address these hypotheses, the following aims will be explored:
Aim 1) Determine whether HPV16 L2 is responsible for suppressing the maturation of LC through interaction with ANXA2.
Aim 2) Determine whether HPV16-exposed LC tolerize T cells.
Aim 3) Investigate whether immune-modulating compounds can reverse the immune- suppressive phenotype and function of HPV16-exposed LC from CIN patients.
Aim 4) Determine whether, apart from HPV16, other high-risk, low-risk and wart type HPV also suppress LC maturation.
These aims will be investigated to get a more detailed understanding of how HPV mediates immune escape via interactions with LC and define compounds that have the potential to inhibit or reverse it. In the near future, this mechanistic research could lead to the identification of compounds for testing in clinical trials, with the goal of clearing persistent HPV infection and therefore reducing risk of developing more serious disease such as cervical and other HPV-associated cancers. 1

Public Health Relevance

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a significant public health problem because it is wide-spread, persists, causes several diseases, and the preventive vaccine does not eliminate existing HPV infection. Successful completion of this project will lead to an understanding of why the immune system fails to clear HPV infections and the development of strategies to expedite viral clearance in infected women, thereby preventing HPV-induced lesions including cancer.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01CA074397-11
Application #
7785140
Study Section
Virology - B Study Section (VIRB)
Program Officer
Welch, Anthony R
Project Start
1997-06-01
Project End
2015-07-31
Budget Start
2010-09-15
Budget End
2011-07-31
Support Year
11
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$326,284
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Southern California
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
072933393
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90089
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Rodrigues, Luana L S; Morgado, Mariza G; Sahasrabuddhe, Vikrant V et al. (2018) Cervico-vaginal self-collection in HIV-infected and uninfected women from Tapajós region, Amazon, Brazil: High acceptability, hrHPV diversity and risk factors. Gynecol Oncol 151:102-110
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Skeate, Joseph G; Da Silva, Diane M; Chavez-Juan, Elena et al. (2018) Nano-Pulse Stimulation induces immunogenic cell death in human papillomavirus-transformed tumors and initiates an adaptive immune response. PLoS One 13:e0191311
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Woodham, Andrew W; Yan, Lisa; Skeate, Joseph G et al. (2016) T cell ignorance is bliss: T cells are not tolerized by Langerhans cells presenting human papillomavirus antigens in the absence of costimulation. Papillomavirus Res 2:21-30
Woodham, Andrew W; Skeate, Joseph G; Sanna, Adriana M et al. (2016) Human Immunodeficiency Virus Immune Cell Receptors, Coreceptors, and Cofactors: Implications for Prevention and Treatment. AIDS Patient Care STDS 30:291-306
Nicol, Alcina F; Brunette, Laurie L; Nuovo, Gerard J et al. (2016) Secretory Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor Expression and High-Risk HPV Infection in Anal Lesions of HIV-Positive Patients. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 73:27-33
Skeate, Joseph G; Woodham, Andrew W; Einstein, Mark H et al. (2016) Current therapeutic vaccination and immunotherapy strategies for HPV-related diseases. Hum Vaccin Immunother 12:1418-29
Skeate, Joseph G; Porras, Tania B; Woodham, Andrew W et al. (2016) Herpes simplex virus downregulation of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor enhances human papillomavirus type 16 infection. J Gen Virol 97:422-34

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