TLR9 expression and function is abolished by the cervical cancer-associated human papillomavirus type 16.

Cervical cancer development is linked to the persistent infection by high-risk mucosal human papillomaviruses (HPVs) types. The E6 and E7 major oncoproteins from this dsDNA virus play a key role in the deregulation of the cell cycle, apoptosis, and adaptive immune surveillance. In this study, we show for the first time that HPV type 16 (HPV16), the most carcinogenic type among the high-risk subgroup, interferes with innate immunity by affecting the expression of TLRs.