E5HPV16 mRNA EXPRESSION PATTERN ANALYSIS IN PATIENTS WITH CERVICAL LESIONS IN VIRAL STATUS CONTEXT.

Human papilloma virus (HPV) may cause mostly transient infections of cutaneous and mucous epithelia. Persistent HPV genital infections may induce pre-malignant or malignant lesions. While E6 and E7 HPV genes' malignant character is known, E5 is still under debate. We evaluated the possible role of E5 gene in cervix oncogenesis, in patients with abnormal cytology and HPV1 6 positive, in the context of viral status correlated with potential targets (p21, EGFR). HPV DNA was detected and genotyped using Linear Array HPV Genotyping Test (Roche Molecular Biochemicals, Mannheim, Germany) and E2, E6, E5 HPV16, p21 and EGFR transcripts levels were investigated by qRT-PCR. Our results indicate a significantly high E5 expression in low grade cytology, expression correlated with a moderated E6 and low p21 levels. All HSIL specimens presented integrated/mixed viral forms; mixed forms presented moderate E5 expression, high levels of p21 correlates with E6 oncogene high expression. These findings indicate a potential role for E5 pattern of expression in discriminating be-tween lesions that may progress to cancer.