Evaluation of the activation of inflammasome in the context of HPV and cervical cancer associated with HPV

• Grant number: 18/04361-1
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): July 01, 2018
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology
• Cooperation agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Alessandra Pontillo
• Grantee: Fernanda Pereira Fernandes
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The contribution of inflammasoma in human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and HPV-associated cervical carcinoma (HPV-CC) has not yet been fully elucidated. On the one hand, the production of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1², IL-18) in keratinocytes seems to be directly proportional to the progression of CC suggesting that HPV would activate the inflammassoma. However, there is also evidence that the HPV E6 oncoprotein would inhibit IL-1² production, contributing to the characteristic immunosuppression of the virus infection. Our group demonstrated that genetic variants leading to the gain of inflammatory function contribute to protection against the establishment of HPV and HPV-CC infection, suggesting that the activation of inflammassoma could be beneficial in this context. For this reason, we propose in this project to evaluate (a) the degree of activation of peripheral blood inflammation in women with HPV-CC or precursor lesions associated with HPV infection (systemic effect); (b) activation of the inflammassoma in co-culture assays with CC (HPV + or HPV-) and leukocytes (local effect). (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DOS REIS, EDIONE CRISTINA; CORDEIRO LEAL, VINICIUS NUNES; DA SILVA SOARES, JAINE LIMA; FERNANDES, FERNANDA PEREIRA; DE LIMA, DHEMERSON SOUZA; DE ALENCAR, BRUNA CUNHA; PONTILLO, ALESSANDRA. Flagellin/NLRC4 Pathway Rescues NLRP3-Inflammasome Defect in Dendritic Cells From HIV-Infected Patients: Perspective for New Adjuvant in Immunocompromised Individuals. FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY, v. 10, JUN 11 2019. Web of Science Citations: 0.