Effects of HPV16 E6 protein on Daxx-induced apoptosis in C33A cells

Aims Daxx is a highly conserved nuclear protein with an important role in transcription, apoptosis and other cell processes. We investigated the role of HPV16 E6 in Daxx-induced apoptosis through their interactions in C33A cells. Methods The binding of HPV16 E6 and Daxx was confirmed in C33A cells using co-immunoprecipitation and indirect immunofluorescence assays. Quantitative PCR and western blotting were performed to determine the RNA and protein expressions of Daxx, respectively. Automatic cell count and MTT assays were performed to investigate the proliferation of C33A cells. The apoptosis rate of C33A cells was determined via flow cytometry using Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. The relative activity of caspase-8 was tested using ELISA. Results HPV16 E6 can bind with Daxx and cause its translocation in C33A cells. The transfected HPV16 E6 can cause a decrease in relative quantification for Daxx in Daxx-overexpressing cells. After Daxx transfection, cell proliferation was found to decrease sharply and cell apoptosis to increase sharply. However, when HPV16 E6 was co-transfected with Daxx, this decrease and increase both became gentle. Similarly, HPV16 E6 made the Daxx-induced increase in caspase-8 activity milder. Conclusions HPV16 E6 is involved in inhibiting apoptosis through deregulation of Daxx-induced caspase-8 activities.