Abstract: Objective To investigate the expression of activated ERK (p-ERK) and activated p38 (p-p38) in the keratinocytes of condyloma acuminata (CA) lesions. Methods Fifty cases of HPV 6/11 CA were diagnosed by in situ hybridization. The expression and distribution of p-ERK and p-p38 in CA lesions and 25 normal human skins (foreskins) were detected by immunohistochemistry technique (En Vision). Results ①The results showed that the expression of p-ERK and p-p38 in keratinocytes of CA lesions were significantly higher than those in normal epidermis (P<0.01), and the expression distributed mainly in prickle layer of CA lesions. The positive signal located mainly in the nuclei. ②In CA lesions the expression of p-ERK and p-p38 was positively correlated. Conclusions The study suggests that, for CA caused by HPV 6/11, both ERK and p38 MAPK may play a role in MAP kinase signaling pathway.

Key words: Condylomata acuminata, Papillomavirus, human, Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases, p38