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Inhibition of Bax activity is crucial for the antiapoptotic function of the human papillomavirus E6 oncoprotein

Oncogene volume 25, pages 4009–4015 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Oncogenic types of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) cause cervical cancer in humans. The antiapoptotic viral E6 gene has been identified as a key factor for maintaining the viability of HPV-positive cancer cells. Although E6 has the potential to modulate many apoptosis regulators, the crucial apoptotic pathway blocked by endogenous E6 in cervical cancer cells remained unknown. Using RNA interference (RNAi), here, we show that targeted inhibition of E6 expression in cervical cancer cells leads to the transcriptional stimulation of the PUMA promoter, in a p53-dependent manner. This is linked to the activation and translocation of Bax to the mitochondrial membrane, cytochrome c release into the cytosol, and activation of caspase-3, in a PUMA-dependent manner. Moreover, inhibition of Bax expression by RNAi efficiently reverts the apoptotic phenotype, which results from inhibition of E6 expression. Thus, interference with the p53/PUMA/Bax cascade is crucial for the antiapoptotic function of the viral E6 oncogene in HPV-positive cancer cells.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Claudia Lohrey for expert technical assistance and Dr Martin Scheffner for valuable discussion. We are grateful to Drs Reuven Agami, Eric Stanbridge and Bert Vogelstein for the generous gift of plasmids. This work was supported by the Wilhelm-Sander Stiftung (FH-S) and the Deutsche Krebshilfe (FH-S).

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  1. Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Arbeitsgruppe Molekulare Therapie Virus-assoziierter Tumore (F065), Im Neuenheimer Feld 242, Heidelberg, Germany

    M Vogt, K Butz, S Dymalla, J Semzow & F Hoppe-Seyler

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  1. M Vogt
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  2. K Butz
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  3. S Dymalla
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Correspondence to F Hoppe-Seyler.

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Vogt, M., Butz, K., Dymalla, S. et al. Inhibition of Bax activity is crucial for the antiapoptotic function of the human papillomavirus E6 oncoprotein. Oncogene 25, 4009–4015 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1209429

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