Abstract: Objective: To detect the level of methylation of 14-3-3σ gene promoter region, and the expression of 14-3-3σ mRNA and protein in cervix with HPV infection. Methods: The levels of methylation of 14-3-3σ gene promoter CPG island，and the expression of 14-3-3σ mRNA and protein were detected by methylation-specific PCR, Q-PCR and western-blot respectively in 39 cases with cervical condyloma accuminatum (CA), 35 controls and 26 cases with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN3) complicated with cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Results: The rate of the methylation of 14-3-3σ gene promoter CPG island in the samples of SCC was 73.08%, which was higher than that inof control group (22.86%), with a significant difference (P＜0.05). There was no significant difference inof the rate between the samples of CA (17.94%) and of controls (P＞0.05). The expression of 14-3-3σ mRNA and protein in the patients with CIN3 complicated with SCC was lower than that in controls (P<0.05). The expression of 14-3-3σ mRNA and protein in the patients with CA was higher than those in c ontrols (P<0.05). Conclusion: The reduced expression of 14-3-3σ in the patients with CIN3 complicated with SCC may be associated with the hypermethylation of 14-3-3σ gene promoter region.

Key words: condyloma accuminatum, HPV, CIN, Cervical squamous cell carcinoma, methylation, 14-3-3σ