Measurement of TRF1 ,TRF2 expression and HPV 16/18 infection in squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

Abstract：Objective To elucidate the carcinogenesis mechanism in squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix,the expression of telomeric proteins TRF1 ,TRF2 and infection of HPV 16/18 were investigated in human squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Methods Tissue samples of 15 normal cervices ,36 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and 35 squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix were obtained. Results The infection rates of HPV16 /18 in normal cervical epithelium, CIN and squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix were 20. 0%(3/15) ,63. 9% (23/36) and 97. 1 %(34/35) respectively(P<0. 01). The positive rates of TRF1 in normal cervical epithelium, CIN and squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix were 86. 7% (13/15), 63. 9% (23/36) and40. 0% (14/35) respectively(P <0. 01). The expression of TRFl in CIN III was significantly lower than that in CIN I (P <0.01). The positive rates of TRF2 in normal cervical epithelium, CIN and squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix were 33. 3% (5/15) ,52. 8% (19/36) and 80. 0% (28/35) respectively(P<0.001). TRFl expression was negatively correlated to HPV 16/18 infection(Rs = -0. 302 ,P <0. 05). TRF2 expression was positively correlated to HPV 16/ 18 infection(Rs=0.452, P<0.01). Conclusion Our results suggest that down-regulation of TRFl and up-regulation of TRF2 is involved in carcinogenesis and development of the human squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix caused by the infection of HPV 16/18.