Expression of p16 and p27 protein in cervical exfoliated cells and its relationship with high risk human papilloma virus in cervical lesions

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the expression of p16 and p27 protein in cervical exfoliative cells and explore the relationship between the expression of HR-HPV (High-risk human papilloma virus) and cervical lesions. One hundred-twenty cervical cytology specimens were selected as cases from patient cervical cancer screening. According to the double screening, results were divided into a double negative group, a single positive group, a double positive group [including Thinprep cytologic test (TCT) ≤ Low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL)] and an HPV positive group, [TCT ≥ High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and HPV positive group (HSIL)]. Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of p16 and p27 protein in the specimens of the exfoliated cells of the cervix. The result showed that the expression of p16 in the TCT ≥ HSIL group was higher than other groups (P<0.05), and the expression of p27 was lower than the other groups (P<0.05). In group CIN3, the expression of p16 and p27 was P<0.01 compared to the other groups. The positive rate of the A9 group in group CIN3 and the inflammatory and CIN1 group was statistically different (P<0.05). Moreover, in the single positive groups (group A9, group A5/6, A7 group, and mixed-infection group), the infection rate of group A9 was significantly higher than that of the other groups. With the progression of cervical lesions, the expression of p16 increased and the expression of p27 decreased, and both expressions were associated with HR-HPV infection.