Cataracts in transgenic mice caused by a human papillomavirus type 18 E7 oncogene driven by KRT1-14

Human papillomavirus type 18 (HPV18) is a common cause of cervical cancer. To create a mouse model for this common neoplastic disease, we used a human keratin 14 promoter to drive the HPV18 E7 oncogene to create transgenic mice. No mice up to a year of age developed cervical cancer. However, all transgenic mice and none of the controls developed progressive bilateral cortical cataracts. By 6 months of age, the cortex liquefied leaving the lens nucleus. Proliferation of lens epithelium formed multifocal nodules and free floating lens epithelial cells within the liquefied cortex. These cells were hyperplastic not neoplastic. Other HPV transgenic stocks develop cataracts suggesting this virus may have a broad cellular tropism.