FIG 2.
Estrogen significantly represses RNA expression of HPV16 early genes. (A) SCC47, UMSCC104, and UMSCC152 cells were grown in the presence or absence of 15 μM estrogen for 7 days. The cells were then harvested, and RNA expression levels were monitored via qPCR for E2, E4, E5, E6, and E7 and compared to the loading control GAPDH. Data are presented as fold repression calculated from ΔΔCT calculated from the comparison of levels observed in control cells and further compared to GAPDH levels. (B) Cells were treated as described above for panel A, and DNA levels of E2, E4, E5, E6, and E7 were monitored via qPCR. Data are presented as fold repression calculated from ΔΔCT calculated from the comparison of levels observed in control cells and further compared to GAPDH levels. No significant DNA changes were observed in any of the cell lines, and UMSCC104 data are presented as representative data. Experiments were conducted in triplicate, and error bars are representative of SE.