Dual Role of YY1 in HPV Life Cycle and Cervical Cancer Development

Abstract

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are considered to be key etiological agents responsible for the induction and development of cervical cancer. However, it has been suggested that HPV infection alone may not be sufficient to promote cervical carcinogenesis, and other unknown factors might be required to establish the disease. One of the suggested proteins whose deregulation has been linked with oncogenesis is transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1). YY1 is a multifunctional protein that is involved not only in the regulation of gene transcription and protein modification, but can also control important cell signaling pathways, such as cell growth, development, differentiation, and apoptosis. Vital functions of YY1 also indicate that the protein could be involved in tumorigenesis. The overexpression of this protein has been observed in different tumors, and its level has been correlated with poor prognoses of many types of cancers. YY1 can also regulate the transcription of viral genes. It has been documented that YY1 can bind to the HPV long control region and regulate the expression of viral oncogenes E6 and E7; however, its role in the HPV life cycle and cervical cancer development is different. In this review, we explore the role of YY1 in regulating the expression of cellular and viral genes and subsequently investigate how these changes inadvertently contribute toward the development of cervical malignancy.

YY1 transcription factor induces proliferation and aerobic glycolysis of neuroblastoma cells via LDHA regulation

“…Transcription factor yin yang 1 (YY1) can bind to gene promoters in a variety of cells, regulating downstream transcription and thereby affecting protein expression (12). Numerous reports (13)(14)(15) have demonstrated that YY1 is significantly upregulated in a variety of types of cancer, including breast cancer, lung cancer and glioma. YY1 can play a role in regulating cell proliferation, epithelial to mesenchymal transition and chemoresistance.…”

Age and Cytokine Gene Variants Modulate the Immunogenicity and Protective Effect of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-Based Vaccination

“…YY1 is involved in inflammation and tumorigenesis [ 26 , 46 ]. In particular, YY1 is known to be involved in viral diseases, playing a role in the activation of HIV-1 replication [ 47 ] and in the promotion of oncogenic HPV [ 48 ]. AP-1 modulates proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and inflammation [ 49 ] and has a central role in the induction of IL-1β production and secretion mediated by nuclear translocation of activated AP-1 [ 50 , 51 ].…”

High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Infection in Lung Cancer: Mechanisms and Perspectives

“…Cellular transcription factors including Ying-yang 1(YY1), Nuclear-factor 1(NF1), Activator protein 1 (AP1), Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and Progesterone receptor (PR), among others, can bind to the cognate site in this region for viral gene expression regulation. Additionally, viral E2 protein binding to cognate sites inside the LCR stimulate or to suppress the viral transcriptional activity with effects depending on different HPV types and variants [ 19 , 20 , 21 ]. The E region encodes all the non-structural E1, E2, E4, E5, E6 and E7 proteins, with them having major functions in viral replication and cell transformation [ 22 ].…”