HLA-DQB1 and cervical cancer in Venezuelan women.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer represents a major health problem in Venezuela as well as in other Latin American countries. High-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection is known as the major risk factor of cervical cancer. However, whether or not a HR-HPV-infected woman progresses to cervical cancer may depend on the immune system effectors induced by viral antigens presented by her specific human leukocyte antigens (HLA) alleles. The role of the HLA system in presenting peptides to antigen-specific T-cells may be critical for genetic susceptibility and genetic resistance to cervical carcinoma. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the relationship between HLA-DQB1, HPV infection, and cervical cancer in Venezuelan women. METHODS: Blood samples and cervical swabs were obtained from 36 patients and 79 healthy controls; additional cervical biopsies were obtained from all the patients. HPV DNA was detected by PCR and HLA-DQB1 genotyping was performed using a PCR-SSP protocol. RESULTS.: A positive association with cervical cancer was observed for HLA-DQB1*0201-0202 and *0402 alleles, however after Bonferroni correction only HLA-DQB1*0402 remained statistically significant (P value = 0.004, RR = 5.067). CONCLUSION: This is the first report of HLA-DQB1 alleles associated with cervical carcinoma in Venezuelan women. Larger studies are needed to assess whether these HLA-DQB1*0201-0202 and *0402 alleles have a direct effect on disease susceptibility.

HLA-DRB1*1602 allele is positively associated with HPV cervical infection in Bolivian Andean women.

Incidence of cervical cancer is high among Bolivian Andean women. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is known as the major risk factor of cervical cancer. The host immune system plays an important role in the outcome of HPV infection and associated malignancies. In order to study the immunogenetic background of Bolivian Andean women with regard to HPV infection status, we compared HLA class I and class II allele frequencies between 37 HPV positive and 68 HPV negative Bolivian women. Demographic variables, including distribution of Andean ethnicities, were similar in both groups. Comparison of HLA class I allele frequencies between both groups indicated no significant difference. In contrast, HLA class II DRB1*1602 allele, an Amerindian allele, was significantly higher in the HPV positive women compared with HPV negative controls (chi(2) = 5.2, p < 0.05, odds ratio = 3.17; 95% confidence interval = 1.4-8.8). HPV types present in the HPV positive group were HPV-18, -16, -31, -33, and -58. These results suggest that HLA class II DRB1*1602 may confer susceptibility to infection with genetically related HPV types. This is the first report of an HLA class II association with HPV infection in an Andean population.

Prevalence of human papillomavirus infection in rural villages of the Bolivian Amazon.

Cervical cancer constitutes a major health problem in developing countries like Bolivia. The roles of certain genotypes of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer is well established. The prevalence of HPV infection among sexually active women varies greatly. Information regarding HPV infection in Bolivia is very much scarce, specially in regions like the Amazonian lowland. We studied 135 healthy women living in four rural localities of the Bolivian Amazon. Presence of HPV in DNA extracted from cervical swabs was analyzed using a reverse line hybridization assay. The estimated overall HPV infection prevalence among the studied rural localities was 5.9% (ranging from 0-16.6%). These values were unexpectedly low considering Bolivia has a high incidence of cervical cancer. The fact that Amazonian people seem to be less exposed to HPV, makes it likely that some other risk factors including host lifestyle behaviors and genetic background may be involved in the development of cervical cancer in this population.

Prevalence of human papillomavirus infection in rural villages of the Bolivian Amazon

Cervical cancer constitutes a major health problem in developing countries like Bolivia. The roles of certain genotypes of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer is well established. The prevalence of HPV infection among sexually active women varies greatly. Information regarding HPV infection in Bolivia is very much scarce, specially in regions like the Amazonian lowland. We studied 135 healthy women living in four rural localities of the Bolivian Amazon. Presence of HPV in DNA extracted from cervical swabs was analyzed using a reverse line hybridization assay. The estimated overall HPV infection prevalence among the studied rural localities was 5.9 percent (ranging from 0-16.6 percent). These values were unexpectedly low considering Bolivia has a high incidence of cervical cancer. The fact that Amazonian people seem to be less exposed to HPV, makes it likely that some other risk factors including host lifestyle behaviors and genetic background may be involved in the development of cervical cancer in this population

Human Papillomavirus Infection among Bolivian Amazonian Women.

Cervical cancer is the most common malignancy among women in Latin America. Human papilloma virus infection is known to be an important risk factor. However, HPV infection among Bolivian women has not yet been fully evaluated. The present study aimed to investigate HPV infection among women living in a rural region of the Bolivian Amazon. Cervical swab samples were collected from 151 healthy women in three Amazonian villages. From every woman, two samples were collected by cotton swab; one for cytological examination and the other for ethanol-preservation of cervical epithelial cells for HPV DNA testing. High molecular DNA was extracted from the ethanol-preserved cervical epithelial cells and tested for HPV DNA by a PCR-RFLP protocol. Ethanol-preserved cervical epithelial cells remained suitable for DNA isolation and PCR amplification of human b-globin and HPV E6/E7 genes, 25 days after sample collection in the field. HPV-31, HPV-58 and HPV-6 were detected in the studied population. The overall prevalence of HPV infection among Bolivian Amazonian women was 8.0%. Neither dual nor multiple HPV infections were found in any of the positive samples. This is the first report of HPV prevalence and type distribution among Bolivian Amazonian women. Our new method for preservation of cervical epithelial cells in ethanol may be useful for viro-epidemiological studies in rural areas.

Evaluación de la especie raphanus sativus como fuente alternativa para la purificación de peroxidasa y su utilización en pruebas de inmunodiagnóstico / Evaluation of the species Raphanus sativirus is alternative source peroxidasa purificaton and its use in inmuodiagnostic tests

Se purificó Peroxidasa a partir de 3 fuentes vegetales: Raphanus sativus (rábano común), Bolivian radish (rábano procedente de semillas mejoradas) y Amoracia lapathifolia (horse-radish ó raíz picante). Se obtuvo un extracto crudo de cada especie, se efectuó una precipitación etanólica, separación de fracciones activas de peso molecular semejante mediante cromatografía de exclusión molecular y aislamiento de sub-fracciones activas en función a su comportamiento acido básico frente a un intercambiador aniónico. La sub-fracción de actividad enzimática específica más elevada (aislada a partir de la variedad Bolivian radish, aproximadamente 9 y 5 veces superior en relación a las sub-fracciones semejantes de rábano común y de raíz picante), fue conjugado satisfactoriamente a la anti-IgG humana (producida en conejo), lo cual alentaría la posibilidad de su aplicación en las pruebas de inmunodiagnóstico. Se partió de 25 gr. de cada vegetal (tubérculos y raices) obteniendose aproximadamente 1 mg. de enzima activa