Abstract

High risk Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, the etiological factor of cervical cancer (CaCx), is mostly transient. In few women it persists and leads to CaCx . To understand this differential outcome of HPV infection, we aimed to identify possible association of host immunogenetics with the clinical outcomes. Women recruited from the Tata Memorial Hospital and KEM Hospital, Mumbai were divided in three groups on the basis of their cervical abnormalities and infection status. HPV typing, polymorphism in HLA, cytokine genes and in a specific T cell receptor, was done using standardized methods. Results revealed, multiple HPV types including HPV 16 is the major cause of CaCx. The European T350G variant of E6 gene of HPV 16 was the most prevalent type, known to cause a persistence infection thus, increasing the risk. Specific HLA alleles are observed to be associated with CaCx or with its prevention. Study highlighted for the first time significant association of IL-6-174 GG and a specific SNP +49A/G of CTLA-4 gene with CaCx. Though etiology of CaCx is multifactorial, Type of HPV infection and presence of specific host factors may predict infection outcomes. Hence, they may be useful biomarkers in cancer screening programs or in successful implementation of HPV based immunization programs.