Human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 sequences in carcinoma cell lines of the cervix

Abstract

A total of eight human epithelial cell lines derived from the carcinoma of the cervix were examined for the presence of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) types 16 and 18 DNA sequences. Six out of eight cell lines contain sequences hybridizing to the DNA of these viruses. Two of the cell lines contain sequences hybridizing specifically to HPV 16. One of these two cell lines contains all of the HPV 16 sequences and the other cell line is missing fragments containing early regions E2 and E4 and some of the late regions. Four of the cell lines contain sequences hybridizing specifically to HPV 18. All these cell lines are missing fragments containing early regions E2, E4, and E5. Interestingly, all the cell lines contain sequences corresponding to early regions E1, E6, and E7.