Transcriptomic Analysis of HPV-Positive Oesophageal Tissue Reveals Upregulation of Genes Linked to Cell Cycle and DNA Replication

Shafiq M. O., Cakir M. O., BİLGE U., Pasha Y., Ashrafi G. H.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, cilt.26, sa.1, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 26 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.3390/ijms26010056
  • Dergi Adı: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: cell cycle dysregulation, DNA replication, HPV positive oesophageal tissue, human papillomavirus (HPV), non-cancerous oesophageal tissue, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), RNA sequencing, transcriptomic profiling
  • Akdeniz Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a prevalent sexually transmitted infection, implicated in various cancers, yet its influence in non-cancerous oesophageal tissue remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the gene expression changes associated with high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) in non-cancerous oesophageal tissue to elucidate potential early oncogenic mechanisms. Using RNA sequencing, we compared transcriptomic profiles of HPV-positive and HPV-negative non-cancerous oesophageal tissues. Differential gene expression analysis revealed significant upregulation of cell cycle and DNA replication pathways in HPV-positive samples, specifically involving key genes such as CCNA2, DSN1, and MCM10, which are known to regulate cellular proliferation and genomic stability. Additionally, kinase and transcription factor enrichment analyses highlighted HR-HPV-associated regulatory molecules, including E2F4 and CSNK2A1, suggesting HPV’s role in modulating host cell cycle control. These findings support the hypothesis that HPV infection may initiate cellular alterations in oesophageal tissue, potentially predisposing it to malignancy. This study contributes to understanding HPV’s impact in non-cancerous tissues and identifies possible biomarkers for early HPV-related cellular changes, offering insights into HPV-driven cancer development beyond traditionally associated sites.