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. 2015 May 20:2:17.
doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2015.00017. eCollection 2015.

Identification of Human Papilloma Viruses in Atheromatous Coronary Artery Disease

James S Lawson  1 , Wendy K Glenn  1 , Dinh D Tran  1 , Christopher C Ngan  1 , Johan A Duflou  2 , Noel J Whitaker  1
Affiliations

Identification of Human Papilloma Viruses in Atheromatous Coronary Artery Disease

James S Lawson et al. Front Cardiovasc Med. .

Abstract

Objective: To identify human papilloma viruses (HPV) in atheromatous coronary arteries.

Background: Atheromatous arterial disease is primarily an initial inflammatory response to unknown stimuli. The crucial question is "what causes the initial inflammation in atheromatous disease?" HPV infections may be relevant as US women with vaginal, high risk for cancer, HPV infections, are at up to threefold increased risk of cardiovascular disease as compared with vaginal HPV-negative women. These studies did not include analyses of HPV in atheromatous coronary arteries.

Methods: Atheromatous coronary arteries were identified and collected from 20 deceased donors. Polymerase Chain Reaction techniques were used to identify HPV gene sequences. Immunohistochemistry methods were used to identify HPV E7 proteins.

Results: HPV types 16 and 18 were identified in 11 (55%) of 20 specimens. HPV E7 protein was identified in 10 (50%) of 20 specimens. Positive and negative HPV identification and HPV E7 expression in coronary smooth muscle cells were significantly correlated (cc = 0.503, p = 0.024). The HPV E7 proteins were expressed in smooth muscle cells and plasma cells, foam cells, and macrophages located in the atheromatous plaque. HPV E7 proteins were not expressed in infiltrating lymph cells.

Conclusion: HPV gene sequences were identified in 55% of atheromatous coronary arteries and may have a role in coronary artery disease.

Keywords: HPV E7 protein; atheroma; coronary artery disease; coronary vessel anomalies; human papillomavirus; inflammation.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
HPV type 16 sequences identified in an atheromatous coronary artery from a 34-year-old male donor. Reference sequence is from AF 393502.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Cross section of atheromatous coronary artery from a 35-year-old male donor. This is the same specimen in which HPV E7 protein expression is shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3
Figure 3
HPV E7 protein expression in an atheromatous coronary artery specimen from a 35-year-old male donor. Left: HPV E7 protein expression in atheromatous coronary smooth muscle cells. Right: HPV E7 protein expression in foam cells (foam cells are lipid laden macrophage cells associated with atheroma) in the same specimen.
Figure 4
Figure 4
HPV E7 protein expression in coronary atheroma. (A) HPV E7-positive coronary atheromatous plaque; (B) HPV E7-negative coronary atheromatous plaque [different specimen to (A)]; (C) HPV E7-positive cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN1).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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