Involvement of herpes simplex virus type 2 in modulation of gene expression of human papillomavirus type 18

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) can establish latent or persistent infections in the host, and are involved in the aetiology of benign and/or malignant lesions of the urogenital tract. To investigate the putative interaction between these DNA viruses when a double infection occurs, we have studied the effect of HSV-2 infection in HeLa 229 cells containing 10-50 copies of HPV type 18 genomic DNA. Twenty hours post HSV-2 infection, the analysis of mRNA transcripts from E1, E2, E6 early and L1 late HPV18 genes was performed in HeLa cells by a semi-quantitative RT-PCR assay. A modulation of HPV18 E1 and E6 early genes was observed, resulting in a 9-fold and 3-fold increased transcription respectively.