Development of Basal-Like HaCaT Keratinocytes Containing the Genome of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Type 11 for Screening of Anti-HPV Effects

Abstract

Condylomata acuminata (CA), induced by low-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs), is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. The increasing incidence and the high recurrence rate of CA have significantly contributed to public health problems around the world. Because HPVs cannot be cultured in vitro for a long time, there has been little progress in the development of HPV-specific antiviral agents. In this study, we established an HPV11.HaCaT system by introducing the recircularized genome of HPV-11 into HaCaT keratinocytes with transfection techniques and cultured them in a special medium. The existence and replication of HPV-11 DNA were positively detected in established HPV11.HaCaT cells. The HPV-11 DNA in HPV11.HaCaT cells has been stably replicated in definite passages of cells. We preliminarily studied the anti-HPV-11 effects of recombinant human interferon α1b (rhIFN-α) and 13-hexyl-palmatine hydrochloride (HP-13) in HPV11.HaCaT cells. The results suggest that HP-13 significantly inhibited the proliferation of HPV11.HaCaT cells in a dose-dependent manner, whereas rhIFN-α did not. HP-13 and rhIFN-α inhibited the replication of HPV-11 DNA and the expression of E1(∧)E4 mRNA in HPV11.HaCaT cells. In conclusion, the established HPV11.HaCaT cells can provide us with a convenient and relatively stable tool for screening anti-HPV-11 agents.

Keywords: Condylomata acuminata; HaCaT keratinocytes; drug screening; human papillomavirus.