Up-regulation of peroxiredoxin 3 by high-risk human papillomavirus in cervical cancer cells

Objective The present study was conducted to investigate the response of peroxiredoxin 3 (PRX3) to oxidative stress induced by high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). Methods Sixty patients with cervical cancer were included and sixty patients with hysteromyoma were assigned as controls. Serum PRX3 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of PRX3 and oncoprotein E6 of HPV16 or HPV18 was examined in cervical cancer tissues by immunohistochemistry and in cervical cancer cells by Western blotting respectively. Results Patients with invasive squamous cervical cancer showed higher level of serum PRX3 than control subjects with hysteromyoma. PRX3 expression was up-regulated and was positively associated with that of E6 of HPV16 or HPV18 in cervical cancer tissues. The correlation was confirmed in HPV-containing cervical cancer cell lines including CaSki, and HeLa. Conclusions Our result indicated a positive response of PRX3 to HPV-induced oxidative stress. Serum PRX3 might be a potential indicator of active amplification of high-risk HPV in cervical cancer cells. Key words: Cervical cancer; Human papillomavirus; Oxidative stress; Peroxiredoxin