Tissue samples
This cross sectional, case control study was performed between 2008 and 2019 in the Modarres Hospital (Tehran, Iran). A total of 70 blocks of Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded (FFPE) including 59 samples diagnosed as breast carcinomas, and 11 benign breast lesions as control were collected from the pathology department archives of Modarres hospital. Also, several parameters; such as type of BC, grading of breast cancer, age and level of education were taken in written format as exclusion criteria and summarized in Table 1. The specimens were carried to the school of Medicine in Shahid Beheshti University for the following studies.
DNA Extraction for PCR
The genomic DNA was extracted from FFPE breast tissues. Then we performed standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect HPV DNA. For extraction at first, FFPE tissues were cut in 10 μm thickness by microtome. Deparaffinization was performed by adding 1 ml xylene and spinning. Afterwards we centrifuged the samples for 5 min and supernatants were removed. This step was repeated once, then 1 ml of 96% ethanol was added. Microtubes were put in 50ºC heating block until ethanol was entirely dried up. Then the digestion was performed by digestion buffer and proteinase K solution. At the end they incubated overnight, and next day they were placed in 95ºC heater. Afterwards, phenol, phenol-chloroform and only chloroform solution were added respectively followed by centrifugation and subsequent removal of the supernatant. Ultimately, ethanol was added, then they were kept in the incubator overnight.
In the last day of extraction samples were centrifuged at 12000 g for 30 min. Then threw away supernatant and left the ethanol to evaporate in 37ºC heater. Finally distilled water was added and then the DNA extracts were quantified with a NanoDrop spectrophotometer.
GAPDH PCR amplification
The quality of DNA extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue samples was assessed by using a forward (ATGTTCGTCATGGGTGTGAA) and reverse (GGTGCTAAGCAGTTGGTGGT) primer pair targeting a sequence within the GAPDH gene. PCR amplification protocol consisted of 30 cycles of denaturation at 95 °C for 30 s; hybridization at 55°C for 30 s, and elongation at 72°C for 30s. A final elongation step was performed at 72 °C for 10 min.
HPVdetection by nested PCR
All samples were screened for the HPV L1 conserved region. The nested PCR assay was performed using two sets of primers (MY09/11 and GP5+/6+) for two consecutive amplification reactions. The first reaction was performed in 25 μl using 12.5 μl of master mix (which includes:1X PCR buffer, 2 mM MgCl2, 50 μM of each deoxynucleotide triphosphate (dNTP) and 2 U of Taq DNA polymerase (Takapouzist, Iran), 100-200 ng of template DNA, 10 pmol of each consensus outer degenerate primer MY09(5’-CGTCC(A/C)A(A/G)(A/G)GGA(A/T)ACTGATC -3’) /MY11(5’-GC(A/C)CAGGG(A/T)CTATAA(C/T)AATGG -3’) and distilled water. Thermal cycling (Bio Intellectica) performed with the following program: 5 min at 94 °C, 40 cycles of 1 min at 94 °C, 1 min at 55 °C and 1 min at 72 °C, with a final extension step at 72 °C for 7 min.
The second reaction was also performed in 50 μl including 25 μl of master mix (which contains: 1X PCR buffer, 3 mM MgCl2, 50 μM each dNTP, 2U Taq DNA polymerase), 100-200 ng of amplified DNA, and 10 pmol each inner consensus primer GP5+ (5’-TTTGTTACTGTGGTAGATACTAC-3’) and GP6+ (5’-AAAAATAAACTGTAAATCATATTC-3’), and distilled water. Thermal cycling used the following program: 4 min at 94 °C, 40 cycles of 1 min at 94 °C, 2 min at 40 °C and 2 min at 72 °C, with a final extension step at 72 °C for 4 min.
Negative controls containing water instead of DNA were used. We used HPV18 HeLa cell line as positive control.
Sequencing and Phylogenetic Analysis
The positive PCR samples were sequenced for HPV genotyping. The DNA sequence was determined with the Big-Dye terminator cycle sequencing kit and an ABI 377A sequencer (Applied Biosystems Inc.).
The HPV sequences were edited with the BioEdit program version 7.2.3, and then phylogenetic and molecular analyses were organized using MEGA software program version 6.0.6 [27]. The neighbor joining and the Kimura 2-parameters methods were used for phylogenetic reconstructions that were implemented in the MEGA 6.0.6 program. Statistical significance for the phylogenetic tree was assessed by bootstrap method (1000 replicates).
Nucleotide Sequence Accession Number
The nucleotide sequences of HPV isolates that found out in this study have been settled in GenBank data base [accession numbers QED55703– QED55709]. The GenBank accession numbers for HPV6 types are: QED55703 and QED55704. And for HPV18 types are: QED55705, QED55706, QED55707, QED55708 and QED55709.
Real-time PCR
The PCR amplification was performed in a 20 μl volume containing 4 μl 5x HOT FIREPol® Probe qPCR Mix Plus (no ROX) (Solis BioDyne, Estonia), 0, 5 μl of each forward and reverse primers (Pishgam company, Tehran, Iran), 0.5 μl of probes (Sinaclon Co., Tehran, Iran) which listed in Table2, and 2 μl of each sample or control, and rest of the total volume was obtained by adding distilled water. Amplification and detection was performed by real-time PCR machine (Rotor-Gene-Q 6000 thermocycler (Corbett, Australia)). Thermal cycles used for quantification of HPV18 E6 gene and HPV type 16 E7 gene were 95°C for 12 minutes, 95°C for 15 seconds, and 60°C for 60 seconds for 40 cycles.
Duplicate reactions for each gene were performed. Probes were labeled with 6-FAM at the 5' end and TAMRA at the 3' end.
Each PCR was performed with negative (DNA free water) and positive controls (genomic DNA of SiHa cells for HPV-16, and genomic DNA of HeLa cells for HPV-18).
Multiplex PCRfor HSV-1, HSV-2, VZV and CMV
The PCR reactions were performed in a total volume of 25 μL containing 12.5 μl PCR Master Mix (10X PCR Taq polymerase buffer, 10mM of dNTPs and 1.5 U/rxn of Taq DNA polymerase [Takapouzist, Iran]), 10 pmol of each primer (HSV-1, HSV-2, CMV and VZV) (Table2) , and 50 ng of genomic DNA.
mPCR (multiplex PCR) conditions were as follows: Initial denaturation (95°C for 5min), 35 cycles of denaturation (95°C for 30sec) annealing (60°C for 30 seconds) and extension (72°C for 30 seconds); Final extension was given at 72°C for 10 minutes. Samples were preserved at 4°C and then the PCR product was detected by gel electrophoresis.
Statistical analysis
Data was analyzed by SPSS statistical software program version 16.0. The correlations were subjected to χ2 (Pearson chi-square) and Fisher’s exact test. Odds ratios and logistic regression were also calculated. Statistical significance was set as a P-value less than 0.05.