KDM2B in papillomavirus-related cancer

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are small viruses with a circular double-stranded DNA genome that specifically infect mucosal and cutaneous stratified squamous epithelia. HPV life cycle is tightly linked to the differentiation program of host epithelial cells. The virus infects proliferating cells of the basal layer of epithelia, probably targeting cells with stemness features, and exploits host replication machinery for viral DNA synthesis. As infected cells differentiate while moving up in the epithelium, viral proteins are synthesized allowing assembly of viral particles and their release with exfoliated epithelial cells