Short version of the German evidence-based Guidelines for prophylactic vaccination against HPV-associated neoplasia.

Persistent infection with HPV 16 and 18 has been causally associated with the development of cervical cancer and its precursor lesions as well as with other carcinomas and their precursors, e.g. some vulvar and vaginal cancers. Furthermore HPV 6 and 11 are responsible for anogenital condylomata acuminata in more than 90% of cases. With the recently developed prophylactic bivalent (HPV 16 and 18) and quadrivalent (HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18) vaccines, it is possible to prevent infection of the cervical epithelium and other squamous epithelia, the development of premalignant lesions and, in the case of the quadrivalent vaccine, the development of condylomata acuminata. The following paper represents a summary of the full-text version of the German evidence-based Guidelines, including all evidence-based recommendations regarding the safety as well as the efficacy of the vaccines in preventing CIN, VIN/VaIN, genital warts and other HPV-associated lesions.

[Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis: indication for HPV vaccination?]. / Rekurrierende respiratorische Papillomatose: Indikation für HPV-Vakzination?

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a rare disease in children and adults. It is characterized by proliferation of benign squamous cell papillomas within the respiratory-digestive tract, predominantly the larynx. RRP is caused by oral infection with human papilloma virus (HPV) types 6 or 11. In aggressive disease, which within few months or even weeks requires multiple surgical interventions to remove papillomas, residual impairment of voice and breathing is almost inevitable. Nowadays immune stimulation with interferon alpha or topic application of Cidofovir are recommended to lower the recurrence rate in aggressive disease but vaccination against mumps virus and photodynamic therapies has also been administered. The recently developed tetravalent HPV vaccine Gardasil induces neutralizing antibodies against capsid antigens of the HPV types 16 and 18, which are associated with cervical cancer, as well as against types 6 and 11, which are associated with condylomata acuminata und respiratory papillomatosis. The vaccine has been shown to be safe and highly immunogenic. It can efficaciously prevent new genital infections by one of the four vaccine types as well as the epithelial lesions induced by them. However, the vaccine had no effect against pre-existing genital infections or lesions. Here we propose the hypothesis that HPV vaccination could have a therapeutic effect in RRP by preventing new papilloma formation at additional sites. First case reports on Gardasil vaccination in juvenile as well as adult onset RRP have become available and their serological findings are presented here. In view of the low risk of this adjuvant immunotherapy a larger controlled multicentric trial is proposed to verify this hypothesis.

Loss of p53 or p73 in human papillomavirus type 38 E6 and E7 transgenic mice partially restores the UV-activated cell cycle checkpoints.

We have previously shown that human keratinocytes expressing E6 and E7 from the cutaneous human papillomavirus (HPV) type 38 have high levels of a specific form of p53, which in turn activate the transcription of DeltaNp73 gene. Expression of HPV38 E6 and E7 in mouse skin also promotes p53 and DeltaNp73 accumulation. Interestingly, keratinocytes of these mice do not undergo cell cycle arrest after skin ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Here, we provide several lines of evidence that DeltaNp73 expression and lack of the UV response are directly linked. Loss of p53 gene in HPV38 E6/E7 transgenic mice abolished DeltaNp73 expression and partially restored the UV-activated cell cycle checkpoints. Similarly, loss of p73, and consequently DeltaNp73, led to restoration of the p53 pathways. In fact, keratinocytes of p73-/- HPV38 E6/E7 transgenic mice upon UV irradiation express high levels of p21(WAF1) and are cell cycle arrested. Thus, HPV38 E6 and E7, via DeltaNp73 accumulation, are able to alter the regulation of cell cycle checkpoints activated by UV radiation. These data suggest that UV and HPV may cooperate in skin carcinogenesis.

[Prophylactic and therapeutic HPV immunization]. / Prophylaktische und therapeutische HPV-Impfstoffe.

Papilloma viruses (PV) have been known to cause benign and malignant tumors in animals for more than 100 years. It took over 20 years to win general acceptance for their causative role in anogenital carcinomas in humans in particular in cervial carcinoma. Extensive research has led to the development of a prophylactic vaccine which is now commercially available. It remains to be investigated if HPV-specific therapeutic vaccines can be developed.

Human papillomavirus 16 E6 polymorphisms in cervical lesions from different European populations and their correlation with human leukocyte antigen class II haplotypes.

Infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is necessary for the development of a cervical lesion, but only a fraction of precursor lesions progress to cancer. Additional factors, other than HPV type per se, are likely to increase the probability for progression. Intratype genome variations have been reported to be associated with viral persistence and the development of a major cervical disease. We have recently shown that the prevalence of specific HPV16-E6 variants in invasive cervical cancer (ICC) varies between Italian and Swedish women. To extend our initial study we have analyzed E6 variants in cervical lesions from Czech women, ranging from low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (LCIN) to ICC and scaled up the sample size of our initial study of Swedish and Italian women. In addition, we have correlated the cases of cancers with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II haplotypes. In line with our earlier observation, the distribution of specific HPV16-E6 genotypes in CIN and ICC varied in the 3 cohorts. For instance, the HPV16-E6 L83V variant, which has been found to be positively associated with ICC in Swedish women (p = 0.002), was more prevalent in LCIN than in ICC in Italian and Czech women (p = 0.01 and = 0.03, respectively). These data indicate that host genetic factors, such as HLA polymorphism, may determine the potential oncogenicity of the HPV16-E6 L83V variant. Indeed, the DR04-DQ03 haplotype, which is approximately 3-fold more abundant in the normal Swedish population than in those in Italy and the Czech Republic, was found to be positively associated with HPV16-E6 L83V in the 3 cohorts investigated (p = 0.01). This observation may explain why L83V is a risk factor more in Sweden than in the other 2 countries.

Therapeutic vaccines for human papillomaviruses.

Although papillomavirus infections are not very immunogenic there is evidence that the immune system controls the spread of virus and the development of diseases associated with such infections. Certain types of human papillomaviruses (HPV) are the major cause of premalignant and malignant diseases of the anogenital tract, most notably cancer of the uterine cervix, a major health care problem worldwide. Since the viral oncoproteins E6 and E7 are constitutively expressed within the tumor cells, they are considered as suitable targets for attack by T lymphocytes. Several approaches to specifically trigger a cell-mediated immune response have been successful in experimental animals, leading to suppression of HPV-induced tumors. First clinical trials have been completed which raise hopes that a similar effect can also be achieved by therapeutic vaccination of humans.

[Possibilities of vaccination against HPV infections in cervix carcinoma]. / Möglichkeiten der Vakzinierung gegen HPV-Infektionen beim Zervixkarzinom.

According to epidemiologic and clinical observations as well as from animal experiments it is expected that prevention of cervical cancer based upon an HPV-specific immunization can be achieved by prophylactic vaccination (induction of neutralizing antibodies) or by immune therapy (induction of cytotoxic T cells in women with CIN). Immune therapy of already existing tumors is most likely only possible as an adjuvant treatment. Virus-like particles (VLP) are currently being developed as prophylactic vaccine that can be obtained by expression of the L1 protein. The viral oncoproteins E6 and E7 are prime candidates for therapeutic vaccines administered either as purified molecules or carried by recombinant vectors such as vaccinia virus. Initial clinical trials with the HPV types which are most prevalent in cervical cancer exhibited promising results, yet next generation vaccines are already under development.

A DNA vaccine based on a shuffled E7 oncogene of the human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV 16) induces E7-specific cytotoxic T cells but lacks transforming activity.

Vaccination with oncogene-derived DNA for anti-cancer treatment carries a risk of de-novo tumor induction triggered by the persisting recombinant DNA. We hypothesized that an oncoprotein whose primary sequence has been rearranged ('shuffled') to maintain all possible T cell epitopes still induces cytotoxic T cells against the authentic protein but is devoid of transforming properties. As a model antigen, we used the E7 oncoprotein of the human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16, the major cause of cervical cancer. We have generated an artificial E7 molecule in which four domains were rearranged and, in order to maintain all possible T cell epitopes, certain sequences were duplicated. Upon transfection of this shuffled E7 gene (E7SH) into RMA cells, presentation of an E7 Db-restricted T cell epitope was shown by an E7-specific CTL line in vitro. Immunization of C57BL/6 mice with E7SH DNA induced E7-specific CTL and also conveyed protection against E7-positive syngeneic tumor cells. No transforming activity of E7SH DNA in NIH3T3 cells was detected, as determined by focus formation, induction of S-phase under conditions of serum deprivation and degradation of endogenous pRB. Our results suggest that DNA shuffling may become a promising concept for DNA-based anti-cancer vaccines.

HPV16 L1E7 chimeric virus-like particles induce specific HLA-restricted T cells in humans after in vitro vaccination.

Cervical cancer has been shown to be highly associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The viral oncogenes E6 and E7 are constantly expressed by the tumor cells and are therefore targets for immunotherapy. In the present study we investigated the potential of HPV16 L1E7 chimeric virus-like particles (CVLP) to activate specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in human blood donors. CVLP were expressed by recombinant baculovirus and purified. Direct incubation of freshly isolated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) with CVLP resulted in induction of proliferation and growth of T cell lines. To enhance antigen presentation we also loaded dendritic cells with CVLP and used them to activate naive T cells. Growing cell lines were mainly CD3 positive (>95%) with a predominant CD4-positive and a minor CD8-positive component. Analysis of Tcell specificity was carried out by an interferon-gamma ELISpot assay. Dendritic cells pseudoinfected with CVLP or pulsed with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*0201-restricted peptide E7(11-20) or with a newly identified HPV16 peptide L1(323-331) were used as stimulator cells. T cells responsive to CVLP were found in the cultures with frequencies of 0.5%-0.7%. Frequencies to peptides were around 0.1%. These T cells had cytolytic activity toward autologous B-lymphoblastic cell lines either pseudoinfected with CVLP or pulsed with HLA-A*0201-restricted peptides. They also lysed the HPV16- and HLA-A*0201-positive cervical cancer cell line CaSki, whereas HLA-A*0201-negative SiHa cells were not lysed. We conclude from our data that CVLP show promise for a therapeutic vaccine in patients with HPV16-positive cervical intraepithelial neoplasia lesions or cervical cancer.

Comparison of cytokines and CD80 for enhancement of immunogenicity of cervical cancer cells.

Tumor cells fail to activate specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes due to lack of costimulatory molecules e.g. CD80 (B7.1). We were able to render cervical carcinoma cells immunogenic by introduction of the CD80 gene into the tumor cells. In order to enhance the efficiency of T cell activation we investigated whether addition of interleukins would augment immunostimulation by CD80. To this end, allogeneic T cells were stimulated with CD80-expressing HeLa cells or CaSki cells in the absence or presence of IL-2, IL-7, IL-12, or combinations thereof. The proliferative response of the T cells was determined. CD80-transduced HeLa or CaSki cells induced a stronger proliferative response in allogeneic T cells than parental or mock transfected control cells. All three interleukins enhanced the proliferative response of allogeneic T cells to CD80-expressing tumor cells. IL-2 or IL-7 had stronger effects in expanding the T cells than IL-12. Combination of IL-2 and IL-7 resulted in best T cell expansion. The proliferating T cells were mainly CD8+ cells with MHC class I restricted and unrestricted cytotoxic activity. Stimulation with CD80 alone or in combination with IL-7 induced mainly cytotoxic T lymphocytes. IL-2, IL-12 or the combination of IL-2 and IL-7 induced natural killer cell-like activity and specific cytolytic activity against parental and CD80-positive tumor cells. Our data suggest that the expression of both CD80 and IL-2 plus IL-7 can enhance the efficacy of tumor vaccines.

Immunization against human papillomavirus infection and associated neoplasia.

BACKGROUND: Chimeric virus like particles (CVLPs) constructed by fusing human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) E7 sequences into the C-terminus of the viral L1 gene constitute the first generation of preventive and therapeutic HPV vaccines. Even though vaccination with DNA is highly efficient in the induction of a cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) response utilization of a DNA vaccine in the HPV context, it has been hampered by concern for the oncogenic potential of the E6 and E7 proteins encoded by the viral oncogenes. OBJECTIVE: To consider the use and impact of E7 DNA for immunization. EXPERIMENTAL: In addition to hemagglutination inhibition, a versatile assay to measure neutralization of yeast cell-derived pseudovirions carrying a green fluorescence reporter gene has now been developed. Mice immunized with the HPV16 CVLPs generate E7-specific CTLs, which kill E7 expressing or E7 peptide loaded RMA-cells, protect against tumor formation by syngeneic HPV transformed cells and also induce regression of already established tumors. Since generation of CTL response is achieved by presentation of epitopes as short peptides together with appropriate MHC class I molecules, complete proteins are not required. Instead a shuffled E7 protein has now been used successfully for generating CTL responses comparable to the CVLP responses in mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary results suggest that immunization with E7 shuffled DNA yields a response directed against the authentic E7 protein. Furthermore, booster immunization with E7 shuffled DNA would avoid inhibition by neutralizing antibodies, however, further studies are needed to guarantee that the shuffled E7 protein lacks oncogenic activity.

Induction of an HPV 6bL1-specific mucosal IgA response by DNA immunization.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) plays a crucial role in the development of human anogenital dysplasia. To prevent infection, it is important to induce an HPV-specific mucosal immune response. We investigated whether DNA vaccination would induce an intravaginal mucosal antibody response against HPV 6bL1. New Zealand White rabbits were immunized with an HPV 6bL1 DNA vaccine by one of the three routes: muscular, vaginal, or rectal. We found that vaginal immunization of rabbits with HPV 6bL1 DNA induced 6bL1 virus-like particle-specific lgA antibodies in vaginal secretions. They were detectable until at least 14 weeks after the first immunization. The antibodies also showed neutralizing activity in a hemagglutination inhibition assay. No mucosal immune response was detected in vaginal secretions of rabbits immunized intramuscularly or intrarectally. Our data suggest that vaginal immunization with HPV 6bL1 DNA induces long-lasting IgA responses with neutralizing activity in vaginal secretions of rabbits.

Assembly of human papillomavirus type 16 pseudovirions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Studies of the encapsidation of papillomavirus (PV) DNA, and production of preparative amounts of PVs in vitro, have met with only limited success. To circumvent this problem we established a system in yeast to generate infectious HPV-16 pseudovirions. Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain 1699 was transformed with a construct to allow production of HPV-16 virus-like particles (VLPs). This strain was then transformed with a second construct (target plasmid), the same size as the HPV-16 genome and containing the HPV-16 upstream regulatory region (URR) and the HPV-16 E2 open reading frame. In addition, the target plasmid contained the green fluorescent protein gene to monitor delivery of the target plasmid into mammalian cells after infection. We conclude that this system allows HPV DNA encapsidation because (1) HPV-16 VLPs of two different types (heavy and light) were detected by CsCl gradient centrifugation, (2) DNase I-resistant DNA was detected by PCR/Southern blot analysis in fractions of CsCl gradients at a density corresponding to heavy VLPs, (3) in vitro infection of mammalian cells, including primary mouse splenocytes, with pseudovirions resulted in delivery of the reporter gene as demonstrated by FACS analysis for GFP expression, and (4) after injection of pseudovirions into mice, in vivo reporter gene expression was detected by confocal microscopy in sections of muscle tissue. We conclude that HPV-16 pseudovirions produced in yeast may be useful both for in vitro transduction and for gene delivery in vivo.

Cervical cancer cells induce apoptosis of cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

The goal of immunotherapy is to eliminate tumors by generating tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in patients or by adoptively transferring ex vivo-activated CTLs into patients. Clinical trials have shown that tumor-specific CTLs often disappear before tumors are completely eliminated. In this study, the authors show that CTLs specific for cervical tumor cells undergo apoptosis after they are co-cultured with cervical tumor cells. The established cervical tumor cell lines and cervical cancer tissues express CD95 (Fas/Apo-1) ligand. The tumor cell-induced T-cell apoptosis can be blocked by an inhibitory anti-CD95 (APO-1/Fas) antibody, indicating that tumor cells induce apoptosis of CTLs through CD95-CD95 ligand interaction. Addition of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-7 into the culture rescues the CTL from tumor cell-induced apoptosis. The rescued T cells retain their full antitumor cytotoxicity. These data suggest that human cervical tumor cells might actively down-regulate a cellular immune response by inducing apoptosis of specific T cells during immunotherapy. Local use of IL-2 and IL-7 as adjuvants may promote survival of the CTL and, thus, enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy.

Chimeric virus-like particles of the human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV 16) as a prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine.

Infection by certain human papillomaviruses (HPV), most notably HPV types 16 and 18, is the major risk factor for cervical cancer. Worldwide, this disease represents the second most frequent malignant tumor in women; thus, there is urgent need for efficient therapy and prevention. The natural history of cervical cancer and its precursors (cervical intraepithelial neoplasias), as well as animal experiments, strongly suggest that the immune system controls both the primary infection (by neutralizing antibodies directed against the major structural protein L1) and the progression of the disease (via cytotoxic T cells specific for the viral oncoproteins expressed in transformed cells, e.g., E7). By the expression of an HPV 16 L1E7 fusion protein, we have generated chimeric virus-like particles (CVLP). Immunization of mice with CVLPs induces neutralizing antibodies directed against L1 virus-like particles (devoid of the E7 portion) and E7-specific T cells as measured in vitro. Vaccinated animals are protected against tumor growth following inoculation of syngeneic HPV 16-transformed cells. In addition, we observed a therapeutic effect of vaccination on pre-existing tumors. This data allowed us to conclude that CVLPs are suitable for prevention and therapy of HPV infection. A vaccine based on HPV 16 L1E7 CVLPs is currently under development.

E7-specific cytotoxic T cell tolerance in HPV-transgenic mice.

The "high-risk" human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV 16) is associated with the development of cervical cancer. Although the viral gene products E6 and E7 are constitutively expressed in HPV 16-associated lesions and therefore appear as candidate antigens for a specific immune response, the immune system fails to produce an efficient defence against tumor outgrowth in affected patients. Keratinocytes are the natural target cells of HPV infection. To investigate the E7-specific immune response in vivo, we used transgenic mice expressing the oncogenes E6 and E7 of HPV 16 under the control of the keratin 10 promoter in the suprabasal layers of the epidermis. This expression pattern closely reflects the viral early gene transcription that is observed in low grade cervical intraepithelial lesions (CIN). The transgene product E7 does not induce an immune response in these transgenic mice. However, upon vaccination anti-E7 antibodies were produced without causing signs of autoimmune disease. In contrast, E7-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) were not detected after immunization. From these results we conclude that in K10 HPV 16 E6/E7 transgenic mice the E7 transgene expression induces specific immunological tolerance on the CTL level.

The human papillomavirus type 11 upstream regulatory region triggers hair-follicle-specific gene expression in transgenic mice.

We have generated transgenic mice carrying the URR of the human papillomavirus type 11 ligated in front of the Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase coding region sequence. Using X-Gal staining to demonstrate beta-galactosidase production, we observed a hair-specific transcription of the reporter gene. This transcription was limited to the epithelial cells of the hair bulge region. The transgene was developmentally regulated, as no LacZ staining was demonstrated during embryogenesis and specific staining was first observed after birth. Surprisingly, dexamethasone and ultraviolet B, but not phorbol myristate acetate or progesterone treatment of the animals resulted in an increase in number and intensity of hair follicles expressing the reporter gene.