Can you use the CINtec® p16INK4a Cytology Kit for the detection of HPV?
No. p16INK4a is a cellular protein, not a viral protein. HPV infection is quite common. The infection is mostly transient and resolves spontaneously within several months. Only a small percentage of infections persist and the oncogenic potential of the HR-HPV can take effect.Normally, virus replication takes place in maturing, non-dividing keratinocytes. These cells are differentiating; they do not proliferate and provide no opportunity for the oncogenes to interfere with the cell cycle regulation. However, due to still unknown mechanisms, in a few cases the viral oncogenes get expressed, in replication-competent, undifferentiated basal cells of the cervical epithelium, and preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions can occur. Solely the expression of the viral E7 oncogene in these replication-competent cells will lead to dyskaryosis in the cervical epithelium, and p16INK4a over-expression can be found.
