Molecular identification of cutaneous human papillomaviruses associated with skin cancer

CHOUHY, DIEGO -; DE LORENZI, ANDREA; SQUEFF, MARIO; GOROSITO, M; CESARIOS, G; SANCHEZ, A; BERGERO, A; FERNANDEZ BUSSY, R; GARDIOL, DANIELA; GIRI ADRIANA ANGELICA

Mar del Plata

Congreso; XLIII Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular (SAIB); 2007

Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular (SAIB)

Human papillomaviruses are heterogeneous DNA viruses that include more than 100 different types, 75% of them with cutaneous epithelia tropism. HPV contribution to the development of skin neoplasias is poorly characterized. Also, their epidemiology is poorly understood due to technical difficulties in viral detection that affects the sensitivity, specificity and typing. Argentine is a high-risk skin cancer region; however there are neither studies about the incidence of cutaneous HPV in our population, nor the cooperation of HPV infections to skin cancer. Our goal was the development of a colorimetric PCR-based method to evaluate HPV circulating types in our country, its frequency and their possible skin cancer association. Therefore, we optimized a “Hanging droplet” PCR technique with colorimetric detection for HPV detection. HPV types were identified by direct sequencing of PCR products. We analyzed 32 swabs samples of different skin areas (lesions, UV exposed and no exposed zones) from 7 patients. The frequency of HPV DNA was 62% (20/32), with a predominant presence in lesions and UV exposed skin. Several cutaneous HPV types were found and 4 new viral types were identified from HPV-positive samples. Results have shown the methodology developed is sensitive and specific for HPV DNA detection of a wide range of cutaneous HPVs circulating in our region.