Figure 3

COX-2 and PGE₂ affect E6/E7 mRNA levels. Papilloma cells, containing HPV11, and CaSki cells, containing HPV16, were incubated with 500 nmol/L exogenous PGE₂ or 5 µmol/L celecoxib for 48 h. Combined HPV E6 and E7 transcripts were analyzed by quantitative PCR, normalized to ribosomal phosphoprotein P0, clone 36B4, and expressed relative to control cells treated with dimethyl sulfoxide. Results are means ± SD. *P < 0.05 compared with control cell levels. □, Control; ■, PGE₂; □, celecoxib.