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Review
. 2015 Oct:14:87-92.
doi: 10.1016/j.coviro.2015.09.001. Epub 2015 Sep 20.

Human papillomaviruses: shared and distinct pathways for pathogenesis

Denise A Galloway  1 , Laimonis A Laimins  2
Affiliations
Review

Human papillomaviruses: shared and distinct pathways for pathogenesis

Denise A Galloway et al. Curr Opin Virol. 2015 Oct.

Abstract

Over 200 types of human papillomaviruses (HPV) have been identified that infect epithelial cells at different anatomic locations. HPVs are grouped into five genera with the alpha and beta viruses being the most commonly studied. Members of the alpha HPV genus infect genital epithelia and are the causative agents of many anogenital cancers. Beta HPVs infect cutaneous epithelia and have been suggested as co-factors in the development of non-melanoma skin cancers. Recent studies have shown that activation of DNA damage pathways is important for the productive life cycle of the alpha HPVs while the beta viruses suppress their activation. These differences likely contribute to the varying types of lesions and malignancies that are associated with these viruses.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Differentiation-dependent life cycle of human papillomaviruses. HPVs establish persistent infections in basal epithelial cells where viral genomes are maintained as low copy episomes. Productive replication or amplification occurs upon differentiation in suprabasal layers.
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