HPV8 Field Cancerization in a Transgenic Mouse Model Is Due to Lrig1+ Keratinocyte Stem Cell Expansion

The study used a transgenic mouse model to explore the role of Lrig1+ keratinocyte stem cells in HPV8-induced skin carcinogenesis. It found that the expansion of these stem cells in the hair follicle junctional zone led to thicker skin and hyperproliferative epidermis, predisposing the skin to squamous cell carcinoma. The research highlighted that β-HPV reactivation in these cells contributed to field cancerization, with multiple pre-cancerous lesions developing, particularly in sun-exposed areas. The study provided insights into the mechanisms of β-HPV-induced skin cancer, suggesting similar processes could occur in human conditions like epidermodysplasia verruciformis and actinic keratosis.