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If this pans out it's yet one more reason to give the vaccine young -
Women with cancer-causing strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) may be at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke even when no conventional risk factors for CVD are present.
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston are the first to investigate a potential connection between CVD and HPV, one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the U.S. Their findings are published in the November 1st issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
"Nearly 20 percent of individuals with CVD do not show any risk factors, indicating that other 'nontraditional' causes may be involved in the development of the disease. HPV appears to be one such factor among women," said lead author Dr. Ken Fujise, Director, Division of Cardiology at UTMB. "This has important clinical implications. First, the HPV vaccine may also help prevent heart disease. Second, physicians should monitor patients with cancer-associated HPV to prevent heart attack and stroke, as well as HPV patients already diagnosed with CVD to avoid future cardiovascular events."
Fujise and his colleagues believe the link may be due to HPV's role in inactivating two tumor suppressor genes, p53 and retinoblastoma protein (pRb) – the same process by which HPV causes cancer. p53 has been shown to be essential in regulating the process of atherosclerosis; the retinoblastoma gene plays a pivotal role in regulating cell proliferation.
"If this biological mechanism is proven, a drug compound that inhibits the inactivation of p53 could help prevent CVD in women already infected with HPV," said Fujise.
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston are the first to investigate a potential connection between CVD and HPV, one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the U.S. Their findings are published in the November 1st issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
"Nearly 20 percent of individuals with CVD do not show any risk factors, indicating that other 'nontraditional' causes may be involved in the development of the disease. HPV appears to be one such factor among women," said lead author Dr. Ken Fujise, Director, Division of Cardiology at UTMB. "This has important clinical implications. First, the HPV vaccine may also help prevent heart disease. Second, physicians should monitor patients with cancer-associated HPV to prevent heart attack and stroke, as well as HPV patients already diagnosed with CVD to avoid future cardiovascular events."
Fujise and his colleagues believe the link may be due to HPV's role in inactivating two tumor suppressor genes, p53 and retinoblastoma protein (pRb) – the same process by which HPV causes cancer. p53 has been shown to be essential in regulating the process of atherosclerosis; the retinoblastoma gene plays a pivotal role in regulating cell proliferation.
"If this biological mechanism is proven, a drug compound that inhibits the inactivation of p53 could help prevent CVD in women already infected with HPV," said Fujise.
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