High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the primary risk factor for cervical cancer. HPVs establish persistent infection by maintaining their genomes as extrachromosomal elements (episomes) that replicate along with host DNA in infected cells. The productive life cycle of HPV is intimately tied to the differentiation program of host squamous epithelium. This review examines the involvement of host chromatin in multiple aspects of the papillomavirus life cycle and the malignant progression of infected host cells. Papillomavirus utilizes host mitotic chromosomes as vehicles for transmitting its genetic materials across the cell cycle. By hitchhiking on host mitotic chromosomes, the virus ensures accurate segregation of the replicated viral episomes to the daughter cells during host cell division. This strategy allows persistent maintenance of the viral episome in the infected cells. In the meantime, the virus subverts the host chromatin-remodeling factors to promote viral transcription and efficient propagation of viral genomes. By associating with the host chromatin, papillomavirus redirects the normal cellular control of chromatin to create a cellular environment conducive to both its own survival and malignant progression of host cells. Comprehensive understanding of HPV-host chromatin interaction will offer new insights into the HPV life cycle as well as chromatin regulation. This virus-host interaction will also provide a paradigm for investigating other episomal DNA tumor viruses that share a similar mechanism for interacting with host chromatin.
Papillomavirus and cancerPapillomaviruses (PVs) are small DNA tumor viruses that induce a variety of benign and malignant epithelial lesions in the infected hosts [1]. Over 140 HPV types have been identified to date. Depending on the potential for inducing malignant transformation, these viruses are further classified into high-risk and low-risk HPVs. High-risk HPVs are strongly associated with the development of cervical cancer [2], which is the second most common cancer among women worldwide and the leading cause of death from cancer among women in developing countries; approximately 500,000 cases and 275,000 deaths are reported annually. Over 97% of cervical cancers contain a high-risk HPV genome and express the viral oncogenes E6 and E7, providing a direct link between HPV infection and carcinogenesis. Currently available HPV vaccines protect against up to four major types of cancer causing strains. Alternative approaches are needed for curing ongoing infections because HPV can establish latent infections that persist for years or even decades in host cells. The deregulated expression of high-risk HPV oncogenes is a critical event for the oncogenic progression of HPV-positive lesions. In addition, substantial cytogenetic changes are needed for high-risk HPV-infected cells to progress to invasive tumors. These cellular events do not occur until many years after *Correspondence to: Jianxin You, Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvan...