BACKGROUND: This study aimed to analyze the changes in plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC) immunophenotypes when co-cultured with Caski cells and stimulated by human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 in vitro, and thus to discuss the immunoregulatory roles of pDCs in the tumorigenesis of cervical cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The immunophenotypic expression of pDCs was analyzed under stimulation of HPV E6 and co-culturing with Caski cells in vitro.

RESULTS: HPV E6 infection caused significantly increased expression of CD40 in HPV16 M and HPV16 H groups MyD88 in HPV16 M,HPV16 H, and HPV18L groups; and TRAF6 in HPV16 M, HPV16 H, and HPV18L groups. pDCs co-cultured with Caski cells showed significantly lower expression of MyD88 and TRAF6 compared with the control.

CONCLUSIONS: The expression of MyD88 and TRAF6 might vary in different stages of HPV infection. pDCs might regulate CD40 to participate in the tumorigenesis and progression of cervical cancer, but related mechanisms still need further investigation.

Keywords: DNA Probes, HPV, Human papillomavirus 16, Human papillomavirus 18, Base Sequence, Immunophenotyping, Oncogene Proteins, Viral, Papillomaviridae, Repressor Proteins