BRD4 downregulation inhibits the viability of cervical cancer cells without affecting viral oncoprotein expression

Abstract Human papillomavirus (HPV) expressing cervical cancer lines are sensitized to inhibition of the Bromodomain Containing 4 (BRD4) epigenetic reader protein and this has been linked to decreased expression of the viral E6 and E7 oncoproteins from the viral promoter. Here we show that BRD4 depletion can inhibit the viability of HPV16-positive cervical carcinoma cells and HPV16 E6/E7 expressing cells through a mechanism that is independent of affecting viral oncoprotein expression.