Work

Compromised T Cell Immunity Links Increased Cutaneous Papillomavirus Activity to Squamous Cell Carcinoma Risk

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most common cancer, with increased incidence in immunosuppressed patients. β-Human papillomavirus has been proposed as a contributor to cSCC risk partly on the basis of increased β-human papillomavirus viral load and seropositivity observed among patients with cSCC. Experimental data in mice colonized with mouse papillomavirus type 1 suggest that T cell immunity against β-human papillomavirus suppresses skin cancer in immunocompetent hosts, and the loss of this immunity leads to the increased risk of cSCC. In this study, we show that CD8 + T cell depletion in mouse papillomavirus type 1‒colonized mice that underwent skin carcinogenesis protocol led to increased viral load in the skin and seropositivity for anti‒mouse papillomavirus type 1 antibodies. These findings provide evidence that compromised T cell immunity can be the link that connects increased β-human papillomavirus detection to cSCC risk.

Source: JID Innovations

DOI: 10.1016/j.xjidi.2022.100163

Authors: Luke H. Johnson, Heehwa G. Son, Dat Thinh Ha, John D. Strickley, Joongho Joh, Shadmehr Demehri

Institutions: Harvard University, University of Louisville, Massachusetts General Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Studies

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,000