The genus beta human papillomaviruses (beta HPVs) cause cutaneous lesions and are thought to be involved in the initiation of some nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs), particularly in patients with the genetic disorder epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV). We have previously reported that at least two of the genus beta HPV E6 proteins bind to and/or increase the steady-state levels of p53 in squamous epithelial cells. This is in contrast to a well-characterized ability of the E6 proteins of cancer-associated HPVs of genus alpha HPV, which inactivate p53 by targeting its ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. In this study, we have investigated the ability of genus beta E6 proteins from eight different HPV types to block the transactivation of p53 target genes following DNA damage. We find that the E6 proteins from diverse beta HPV species and types vary in their capacity to block the induction of MDM2, p21, and proapoptotic genes after genotoxic stress. We conclude that some genus beta HPV E6 proteins inhibit at least some p53 target genes, although perhaps not by the same mechanism or to the same degree as the high-risk genus alpha HPV E6 proteins.
IMPORTANCEThis study addresses the ability of various human papillomavirus E6 proteins to block the activation of p53-responsive cellular genes following DNA damage in human keratinocytes, the normal host cell for HPVs. The E6 proteins encoded by the high-risk, cancer-associated HPV types of genus alpha HPV have a well-established activity to target p53 degradation and thereby inhibit the response to DNA damage. In this study, we have investigated the ability of genus beta HPV E6 proteins from eight different HPV types to block the ability of p53 to transactivate downstream genes following DNA damage. We find that some, but not all, genus beta HPV E6 proteins can block the transactivation of some p53 target genes. This differential response to DNA damage furthers the understanding of cutaneous HPV biology and may help to explain the potential connection between some beta HPVs and cancer.H uman papillomaviruses (HPVs) are DNA viruses with small double-stranded DNA genomes and a tropism for squamous epithelial cells. Different HPVs have been associated with various neoplastic diseases: they are the established cause of cervical cancer and have been associated with other anogenital cancers, they are responsible for an increasing proportion of head and neck oropharyngeal cancers, and they cause hyperproliferative lesions in patients with the genetic disorder epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) (1). Most HPV infections are benign, and the vast majority of HPV infections resolve without progression to cancer. This diversity of pathology is related to and reflected by the phylogenetic relationships between HPV types.The more than 178 HPVs now identified are grouped on the basis of the sequence of their L1 gene into five genera (2, 3). Genus alpha human papillomaviruses (alpha HPVs) infect the mucosal epithelium, and a subset of these are associated with cancer. The "high-ris...