Effect of human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 E6 and E7 gene silencing on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) phosphorylation status in HPV16+oropharyngeal cancer cell lines
e17006 Background: Aberrant activation of EGFR intrinsic tyrosine phosphotransferase activity correlates with poor prognosis in several cancers. In this study, we sought to determine the effect of HPV16 E6 and E7 gene silencing on the status of EGFR phosphorylation in HPV16+ oropharyngeal cancer cell lines. Methods: Short hairpin RNAs targeting HPV type 16 E6 and E7 genes were delivered by retrovirus infection to HPV16+ oropharyngeal cancer cell lines 147T and 090. E6/E7 repression was assessed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting for p53 and Rb protein levels 48 hours after retrovirus infection. Phospho-EGFR (Tyr1068), (Tyr845), (Tyr992), (Tyr1045) and total EGFR protein levels before and after silencing were then analyzed by western blotting in 147T and 090 oropharyngeal cancer cell lines. Results: Quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed reduction in E6/E7 mRNA levels up to 85% the level in uninfected or control shRNA infected cell lines. Protein expression revealed substantial downregulation of phospho-EGFR (Tyr992) protein levels, 48 h after the retrovirus infection of 090 and 147T cell lines. A slight reduction of phospho-EGFR (Tyr845) was also observed in both HPV16+ cell lines after silencing. No phosphorylation was detected at sites Y1068 and Y1045 of EGFR. Conclusions: We provide evidence that E6 and E7 are involved in tyrosine phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor at sites Y992 and Y845. Phospho-tyrosine 992 is a direct binding site for the PLCγ SH2 domain and phosphorylation in this site is associated with activation of PLCγ-mediated downstream signaling. Phosphorylation of Tyr845 in the kinase domain is implicated in stabilizing the activation loop maintaining the enzyme in an active state. Since enhanced EGFR activation appears to be a direct consequence of E6/E7 expression, targeting E6/E7 may be effective EGFR blockade in HPV16+oropharyngeal cancers. No significant financial relationships to disclose.