Telomerase Activity In Cervical Tissues And Its Correlation To Human Papillomavirus Infection

Objective To investigate the telomerase activity in cervical tissues and its correlation to human papillomavirus(HPV)infection. Methods The telomerase activity was detected using a modified TRAP(telomeric repeat amplification protocal)assay in cervical tissues in 45 women with cervical cancer,30 women with chronic cervitis and 20 women with normal cervix.The presence of HPV including HPV types 16 and 18 were detected by PCR (polymerase chain reaction)using consensus primers and specific primers for HPV 16 and HPV 18. Results The telomerase positive rate was 88.89%(40/45) in cervical cancer tissues,6.67%(2/30)in chronic cervitis tissues and 0%(0/20)in normal cervix tissues respectively.The telomerase positive rate in cervical cancer tissues was significantly higher than those in chronic cervitis and normal cervix cases(all P<0.05),while no significant difference of the telomerase positive rate was found between chronic cervitis and normal cervix cases(P>0.05). The HPV positive rate was 80%(36/45) in cervical cancer tissues,53.33%(16/30) in chronic cervitis tissues and 20%(4/20)in normal cervix tissues respectively(all P<0.05).The HPV-16 positive rate was 60%(27/45)in cervical cancer tissues,33.33%(10/30)in chronic cervitis tissues and 5%(1/20)in normal cervix tissues respectively(all P<0.05). The HPV-18 positive rate was 8.89%(4/45)in cervical cancer tissues,6.67%(2/30)in chronic cervitis tissues and 0%(0/20)in normal cervix tissues respectively(all P>0.05).The HPV-infected tissues showed increased telomerase expression in cervical cancer(χ2＝8.79,P<0.005,φ＝0.44).Similarly,the HPV-16 infected tissues was also correlated to the presence of telomerase(χ2＝5.85,P<0.025,φ＝0.36).However,there was no correlation between telomerase expression and HPV-18 infection(P>0.05). Conclusions(1)Activation of telomerase is closely associated with cervical cancer.(2)HPV infection including HPV-16 infection is correlated with chronic cervitis and cervical cancer.(3)In cervical cancer activation of telomerase is associated with HPV infection and HPV-16 infection.