Abstract: Objective To investigate the relation between human papillomavirus 16 E6/E7 (HPV16 E6/E7),70 000 heat shock protein (HSP70) and immortalization and transformation of keratinocytes. Methods Keratinocytes were transfected with lipofectamine and positive clones were selected by G418. The expressions of HSP70 and HPV16 E6/E7 by transfected keratinocytes were analysed by means of Western blot,double labelling immunofluorescent staining and laser-scanning confocal microscopy techniques. Results Results of Western blot analysis showed a specific band exhibiting a molecular weight of 70000 in both normal keratinocytes and HPV16 E6/E7 transfected keratinocytes, but the staining was more intensive in transfected keratinocytes than in normal ones. The co-location of HPV16 E6/E7 and HSP70 in transfected keratinocytes were observed by laser-scanning confocal microscopy. Conclusion The high expression of HSP70 in transfected keratinocytes may be induced by HPV16 E6/E7 which suggests that HSP70 might play an important role in immortalization and even transformation of keratinocytes.

Key words: Papillomavirus, human, Heat-shock proteins, Keratinocytes, Transfection