Maternal autoantibodies and congenital heart block: clues from two consecutive pregnancies, one in which there was congenital complete heart block and one in which the fetus was healthy

The pathogenic potential of endogenous retroviruses: facts and fantasies

Endogenous retroviruses are descendants of viruses that became cellular genes by integration into their host's genome. They still contribute to pathogenicity as a partner in recombination events, by de novo insertion after mobilization followed by activation of downstream proto-oncogenes, or by gene disruption. Re-expression of viral proteins accompanied by loss of immune tolerance could induce immune disturbances.