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Human papillomavirus molecular biology and pathogenesis
Author(s) -
Sanclemente G,
Gill DK
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of the european academy of dermatology and venereology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.655
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1468-3083
pISSN - 0926-9959
DOI - 10.1046/j.1473-2165.2002.00419.x
Subject(s) - pathogenesis , hpv infection , medicine , cervical cancer , immune system , immunology , cancer , immunity , disease , papillomaviridae , human papillomavirus , incidence (geometry) , natural history , malignant transformation , virology , cancer research , pathology , physics , optics
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the world and accounts for an estimated 11% of the global cancer incidence in women. HPV‐16 is the most prevalent type detected in cervical cancer and along with types 18, 31, 33 and 45 has been classified as a class I carcinogen. In addition to cervical cancer, HPVs are also associated with the malignant transformation of other mucosal and skin cancers. Thus, the combination of the malignant potential of HPV and its high prevalence of infection confers to it an importance of generalized clinical and virological significance. The natural history of HPV infection with or without treatment varies from spontaneous regression to persistence. The most important mechanism for wart regression appears to be cell‐mediated immunity. Cytokines released by keratinocytes or cells of the immune system may play a part in the induction of an effective immune response against HPV infection and the subsequent regression of lesions. This review discusses the molecular biology, pathogenesis and immunology of HPV infections.