Abstract
Persistent infection by human papillomavirus (HPV), such as HPV16, initiates around 5% of all human cancers. The progression from persistent infection to cancer is associated with the over-expression of HPV16 E6 and E7 (E6/E7), and modulation of antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Microparticles (MPs) are small (100 to 1000 nm), cell membrane-derived vesicles.
This study aimed to understand the role of MPs produced from HPV16 E6/E7-expressing cells on antigen-presentation by Langerhans cells (LCs), the only APCs that are co-located with HPV-infected keratinocytes.