Background: Infections by the human papillomavirus occur in the skin and in the mucosa. They may play a significant role in the neoplastic transformation of cells. At least half of all the epithelial tumours of the ocular surface and the lacrimal drainage system have been shown to be HPV associated. However, in ca. 50% of these tumors only a limited number of mucosal HPV types could be detected by commercially available test systems. This study reports of HPV specific sequences in putatively HPV associated tumorous and inflamed tissues of the eye.
Materials and methods: 32 biopsies of 26 patients suffering from chronic hyperplastic lesions of the lid, conjunctiva and lacrimal drainage system were examined using DNA extraction, amplification of HPV specific sequences by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cloning and sequencing of the PCR products.
Results: Ten HPV types could be detected in 11 biopsies of 8 patients with papillo-mas, seborrheic and actinic keratosis, dacryocystitis and syringoma. In 5 of 9 histologically verified papillomas HPV 6, 20, 23, DL 332 (HPV 5b-related), DL 284 (HPV 20-related) and NN-AA44 were detected, HPV 5b, 38 and DL 284 in seborrheic keratoses, HPV 36 in actinic keratosis, NN-AA44 und NN-AA45 in dacryocystitis and HPV 20, 23 and DL 332 in syringoma.
Conclusions: The DNA techniques used in this study represent important methods for the detection of HPV types and allow an association of HPV types with defined tumours and inflammations of the eye. In two of the biopsies putatively new HPV types could be identified.