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Hosseiniporgham S, Sechi LA. Anti-HERV-K Drugs and Vaccines, Possible Therapies against Tumors. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11040751. [PMID: 37112663 PMCID: PMC10144246 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11040751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The footprint of human endogenous retroviruses (HERV), specifically HERV-K, has been found in malignancies, such as melanoma, teratocarcinoma, osteosarcoma, breast cancer, lymphoma, and ovary and prostate cancers. HERV-K is characterized as the most biologically active HERV due to possession of open reading frames (ORF) for all Gag, Pol, and Env genes, which enables it to be more infective and obstructive towards specific cell lines and other exogenous viruses, respectively. Some factors might contribute to carcinogenicity and at least one of them has been recognized in various tumors, including overexpression/methylation of long interspersed nuclear element 1 (LINE-1), HERV-K Gag, and Env genes themselves plus their transcripts and protein products, and HERV-K reverse transcriptase (RT). Therapies effective for HERV-K-associated tumors mostly target invasive autoimmune responses or growth of tumors through suppression of HERV-K Gag or Env protein and RT. To design new therapeutic options, more studies are needed to better understand whether HERV-K and its products (Gag/Env transcripts and HERV-K proteins/RT) are the initiators of tumor formation or just the disorder’s developers. Accordingly, this review aims to present evidence that highlights the association between HERV-K and tumorigenicity and introduces some of the available or potential therapies against HERV-K-induced tumors.
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Laska MJ, Troldborg A, Hauge EM, Bahrami S, Stengaard-Pedersen K. Human Endogenous Retroviral Genetic Element With Immunosuppressive Activity in Both Human Autoimmune Diseases and Experimental Arthritis. Arthritis Rheumatol 2017; 69:398-409. [DOI: 10.1002/art.39867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2016] [Accepted: 09/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Vincendeau M, Göttesdorfer I, Schreml JMH, Wetie AGN, Mayer J, Greenwood AD, Helfer M, Kramer S, Seifarth W, Hadian K, Brack-Werner R, Leib-Mösch C. Modulation of human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) transcription during persistent and de novo HIV-1 infection. Retrovirology 2015; 12:27. [PMID: 25886562 PMCID: PMC4375885 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-015-0156-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2014] [Accepted: 03/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The human genome contains multiple LTR elements including human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) that together account for approximately 8-9% of the genomic DNA. At least 40 different HERV groups have been assigned to three major HERV classes on the basis of their homologies to exogenous retroviruses. Although most HERVs are silenced by a variety of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, they may be reactivated by environmental stimuli such as exogenous viruses and thus may contribute to pathogenic conditions. The objective of this study was to perform an in-depth analysis of the influence of HIV-1 infection on HERV activity in different cell types. RESULTS A retrovirus-specific microarray that covers major HERV groups from all three classes was used to analyze HERV transcription patterns in three persistently HIV-1 infected cell lines of different cellular origins and in their uninfected counterparts. All three persistently infected cell lines showed increased transcription of multiple class I and II HERV groups. Up-regulated transcription of five HERV taxa (HERV-E, HERV-T, HERV-K (HML-10) and two ERV9 subgroups) was confirmed by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR analysis and could be reversed by knock-down of HIV-1 expression with HIV-1-specific siRNAs. Cells infected de novo by HIV-1 showed stronger transcriptional up-regulation of the HERV-K (HML-2) group than persistently infected cells of the same origin. Analysis of transcripts from individual members of this group revealed up-regulation of predominantly two proviral loci (ERVK-7 and ERVK-15) on chromosomes 1q22 and 7q34 in persistently infected KE37.1 cells, as well as in de novo HIV-1 infected LC5 cells, while only one single HML-2 locus (ERV-K6) on chromosome 7p22.1 was activated in persistently infected LC5 cells. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that HIV-1 can alter HERV transcription patterns of infected cells and indicate a correlation between activation of HERV elements and the level of HIV-1 production. Moreover, our results suggest that the effects of HIV-1 on HERV activity may be far more extensive and complex than anticipated from initial studies with clinical material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Vincendeau
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany. .,Research Unit Cellular Signal Integration, Institute of Molecular Toxicology and Pharmacology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
| | - Ingmar Göttesdorfer
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
| | - Julia M H Schreml
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Armand G Ngounou Wetie
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
| | - Jens Mayer
- Department of Human Genetics, Center of Human and Molecular Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Saarland, Homburg, Germany.
| | - Alex D Greenwood
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Markus Helfer
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
| | - Susanne Kramer
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
| | - Wolfgang Seifarth
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Kamyar Hadian
- Research Unit Cellular Signal Integration, Institute of Molecular Toxicology and Pharmacology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany. .,Assay Development and Screening Platform, Institute of Molecular Toxicology and Pharmacology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
| | - Ruth Brack-Werner
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
| | - Christine Leib-Mösch
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany. .,Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
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Wildschutte JH, Ram D, Subramanian R, Stevens VL, Coffin JM. The distribution of insertionally polymorphic endogenous retroviruses in breast cancer patients and cancer-free controls. Retrovirology 2014; 11:62. [PMID: 25112280 PMCID: PMC4149278 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-014-0062-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Accepted: 07/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Integration of retroviral DNA into a germ cell can result in a provirus that is transmitted vertically to the host’s offspring. In humans, such endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) comprise >8% of the genome. The HERV-K(HML-2) proviruses consist of ~90 elements related to mouse mammary tumor virus, which causes breast cancer in mice. A subset of HERV-K(HML-2) proviruses has some or all genes intact, and even encodes functional proteins, though a replication competent copy has yet to be observed. More than 10% of HML-2 proviruses are human-specific, having integrated subsequent to the Homo-Pan divergence, and, of these, 11 are currently known to be polymorphic in integration site with variable frequencies among individuals. Increased expression of the most recent HML-2 proviruses has been observed in tissues and cell lines from several types of cancer, including breast cancer, for which expression may provide a meaningful marker of the disease. Results In this study, we performed a case–control analysis to investigate the possible relationship between the genome-wide presence of individual polymorphic HML-2 proviruses with the occurrence of breast cancer. For this purpose, we screened 50 genomic DNA samples from individuals diagnosed with breast cancer or without history of the disease (n = 25 per group) utilizing a combination of locus-specific PCR screening, in silico analysis of HML-2 content within the reference human genome sequence, and high-resolution genomic hybridization in semi-dried agarose. By implementing this strategy, we were able to analyze the distribution of both annotated and previously undescribed polymorphic HML-2 proviruses within our sample set, and to assess their possible association with disease outcome. Conclusions In a case–control analysis of 50 humans with regard to breast cancer diagnosis, we found no significant difference in the prevalence of proviruses between groups, suggesting common polymorphic HML-2 proviruses are not associated with breast cancer. Our findings indicate a higher level of putatively novel HML-2 sites within the population, providing support for additional recent insertion events, implying ongoing, yet rare, activities. These findings do not rule out either the possibility of involvement of such proviruses in a subset of breast cancers, or their possible utility as tissue-specific markers of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - John M Coffin
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston 02111, MA, USA.
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Downey RF, Sullivan FJ, Wang-Johanning F, Ambs S, Giles FJ, Glynn SA. Human endogenous retrovirus K and cancer: Innocent bystander or tumorigenic accomplice? Int J Cancer 2014; 137:1249-57. [PMID: 24890612 PMCID: PMC6264888 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.29003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2013] [Revised: 05/02/2014] [Accepted: 05/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Harbored as relics of ancient germline infections, human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) now constitute up to 8% of our genome. A proportion of this sequence has been co-opted for molecular and cellular processes, beneficial to human physiology, such as the fusogenic activity of the envelope protein, a vital component of placentogenesis. However, the discovery of high levels of HERV-K mRNA and protein and even virions in a wide array of cancers has revealed that HERV-K may be playing a more sinister role–a role as an etiological agent in cancer itself. Whether the presence of this retroviral material is simply an epiphenomenon, or an actual causative factor, is a hotly debated topic. This review will summarize the current state of knowledge regarding HERV-K and cancer and attempt to outline the potential mechanisms by which HERV-K could be involved in the onset and promotion of carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronan F Downey
- Prostate Cancer Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Francis J Sullivan
- Prostate Cancer Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Galway University Hospitals, Galway, Ireland
| | | | - Stefan Ambs
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | - Francis J Giles
- Prostate Cancer Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.,HRB Clinical Research Facilities Galway & Dublin, National University of Ireland Galway and Trinity College Dublin, Galway, Ireland
| | - Sharon A Glynn
- Prostate Cancer Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
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Subramanian RP, Wildschutte JH, Russo C, Coffin JM. Identification, characterization, and comparative genomic distribution of the HERV-K (HML-2) group of human endogenous retroviruses. Retrovirology 2011; 8:90. [PMID: 22067224 PMCID: PMC3228705 DOI: 10.1186/1742-4690-8-90] [Citation(s) in RCA: 281] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2011] [Accepted: 11/08/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Integration of retroviral DNA into a germ cell may lead to a provirus that is transmitted vertically to that host's offspring as an endogenous retrovirus (ERV). In humans, ERVs (HERVs) comprise about 8% of the genome, the vast majority of which are truncated and/or highly mutated and no longer encode functional genes. The most recently active retroviruses that integrated into the human germ line are members of the Betaretrovirus-like HERV-K (HML-2) group, many of which contain intact open reading frames (ORFs) in some or all genes, sometimes encoding functional proteins that are expressed in various tissues. Interestingly, this expression is upregulated in many tumors ranging from breast and ovarian tissues to lymphomas and melanomas, as well as schizophrenia, rheumatoid arthritis, and other disorders. RESULTS No study to date has characterized all HML-2 elements in the genome, an essential step towards determining a possible functional role of HML-2 expression in disease. We present here the most comprehensive and accurate catalog of all full-length and partial HML-2 proviruses, as well as solo LTR elements, within the published human genome to date. Furthermore, we provide evidence for preferential maintenance of proviruses and solo LTR elements on gene-rich chromosomes of the human genome and in proximity to gene regions. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis has found and corrected several errors in the annotation of HML-2 elements in the human genome, including mislabeling of a newly identified group called HML-11. HML-elements have been implicated in a wide array of diseases, and characterization of these elements will play a fundamental role to understand the relationship between endogenous retrovirus expression and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi P Subramanian
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
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Romanish MT, Cohen CJ, Mager DL. Potential mechanisms of endogenous retroviral-mediated genomic instability in human cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2010; 20:246-53. [PMID: 20685251 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2010.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2010] [Revised: 05/12/2010] [Accepted: 05/19/2010] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Malignancy results from a complex combination of genetic and epigenetic changes, the full effects of which are still largely unknown. Here we summarize current knowledge of the origin, retrotranspositional activity, epigenetic state, and transcription of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), and then discuss the potential effects of their deregulation in cancer. Evidence suggests that cancer-associated epigenetic changes most likely underlie potential HERV-mediated effects on genome and transcriptome instability and may play a role in malignancy. Despite our currently limited understanding of the importance of HERVs or other transposable elements in cancer development, we believe that the emerging era of high-throughput sequencing of cancer genomes, epigenomes, and transcriptomes will provide unprecedented opportunities to investigate these roles in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- M T Romanish
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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Wang-Johanning F, Liu J, Rycaj K, Huang M, Tsai K, Rosen DG, Chen DT, Lu DW, Barnhart KF, Johanning GL. Expression of multiple human endogenous retrovirus surface envelope proteins in ovarian cancer. Int J Cancer 2007; 120:81-90. [PMID: 17013901 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.22256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Individual classes of human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) genes and proteins are expressed in cancer, but expression of more than one type of HERV is rare. We report here the expression of multiple HERV genes and proteins in ovarian cell lines and tissues. Expression of HERV-K env mRNA was greater in ovarian epithelial tumors than in normal ovarian tissues (N = 254). The expression of this protein on the surface and in the cytoplasm of ovarian cancer cells was confirmed using anti-HERV-K specific antibody by flow cytometric analysis. The frequency of expression of HERV-K env protein in multitissue microarrays (N = 641) was determined by immunohistochemistry and a significant correlation with tumor histotype was found. A significantly increased expression of HERV-K was observed in tumors with low malignant potential and low grade, relative to expression in normal ovarian tissues. The increase in expression of HERV-K env protein took place in a stepwise fashion in serous papillary adenocarcinoma. Interestingly, we found that other classes of HERV env mRNAs, including ERV3 and HERV-E, are expressed in the same ovarian cancer tissues that expressed HERV-K. Furthermore, anti-HERV antibodies including anti-ERV3 (30%), anti-HERV-E (40%) and anti-HERV-K (55%) were detected in patients with ovarian cancer, but not in normal female controls. HERV env proteins are frequently transcribed and translated in ovarian epithelial tumors, and multiple HERV families are detectable in ovarian cancer. HERV env proteins, and especially those expressed on the cell surface, may serve as novel tumor targets for detection, diagnosis and immunotherapy of ovarian cancer.
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MESH Headings
- Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell/metabolism
- Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell/virology
- Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous/metabolism
- Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous/virology
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Base Sequence
- Carcinoma, Endometrioid/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Endometrioid/virology
- Case-Control Studies
- Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous/metabolism
- Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous/virology
- Endogenous Retroviruses/genetics
- Endogenous Retroviruses/immunology
- Endogenous Retroviruses/metabolism
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Female
- Flow Cytometry
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique
- Gene Products, env/genetics
- Gene Products, env/metabolism
- Gene Products, env/physiology
- Humans
- Immunoenzyme Techniques
- Membrane Proteins/genetics
- Membrane Proteins/metabolism
- Middle Aged
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Ovarian Neoplasms/metabolism
- Ovarian Neoplasms/virology
- Ovary/metabolism
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Tissue Array Analysis
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Wang-Johanning
- Department of Veterinary Sciences and Michale E. Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 78602, USA.
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Burmeister T, Ebert AD, Pritze W, Loddenkemper C, Schwartz S, Thiel E. Insertional polymorphisms of endogenous HERV-K113 and HERV-K115 retroviruses in breast cancer patients and age-matched controls. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2004; 20:1223-9. [PMID: 15588344 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2004.20.1223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Endogenous retroviral sequences resulting from ancient retrovirus infections of germline cells account for up to 8% of the human genome. Most of these sequences are highly truncated, have been altered by mutations, and do not encode functional genes. However, some members of the human endogenous retrovirus (HERV)-K family are remarkably intact and display high genetic homology to mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV), a retrovirus causing breast cancer in mice. Two full-length HERVs (K113 and K115) have been reported to show insertional polymorphism. We used PCR to investigate the presence of these two HERVs in 102 female breast cancer patients and an equal number of age-matched controls with no history of malignancy (age range: 25-92 years). The two groups showed no significant difference in frequency (HERV-K113, 16.7% vs. 12.7%; HERV-K115, 4.9% vs. 9.8%) and no apparent association with histology, age at diagnosis, receptor status, HER-2/neu status, or TNM stage at diagnosis. This suggests that the two HERV-Ks do not play a pathogenetic role in the majority of breast cancer patients, though they may be involved in a minority of patients. The results are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Burmeister
- Medizinische Klinik III, Charité-Campus Benjamin Franklin, 12200 Berlin, Germany
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Abstract
The field of cancer gene therapy is in continuous expansion, and technology is quickly moving ahead as far as gene targeting and regulation of gene expression are concerned. This review focuses on the endocrine aspects of gene therapy, including the possibility to exploit hormone and hormone receptor functions for regulating therapeutic gene expression, the use of endocrine-specific genes as new therapeutic tools, the effects of viral vector delivery and transgene expression on the endocrine system, and the endocrine response to viral vector delivery. Present ethical concerns of gene therapy and the risk of germ cell transduction are also discussed, along with potential lines of innovation to improve cell and gene targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Barzon
- Department of Histology, Microbiology, and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Padova, I-35121 Padua, Italy
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Herve CA, Lugli EB, Brand A, Griffiths DJ, Venables PJW. Autoantibodies to human endogenous retrovirus-K are frequently detected in health and disease and react with multiple epitopes. Clin Exp Immunol 2002; 128:75-82. [PMID: 11982593 PMCID: PMC1906363 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2249.2002.01735.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A number of studies have found increased levels of antibodies to human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) in autoimmune rheumatic diseases. It is not clear whether this immune response is driven by the HERV itself or by cross-reactions with an exogenous virus or an autoantigen. To address this question, we examined the antibody response to the Env protein of two closely related members of the HERV-K family, HERV-K10 and IDDMK1,222. By immunoblotting of recombinant proteins, antibodies were found in 32-47% of 84 sera from patients with autoimmune rheumatic disease, and 29% of 35 normal controls. Epitope mapping with overlapping 15mers identified multiple reactive peptides on both antigens, with one (GKTCPKEIPKGSKNT) containing immunodominant epitope(s). By ELISA, the median titre of antibody to this peptide was significantly increased in 39 patients with SLE compared to 39 healthy controls and 86 patients with other rheumatic diseases (P < 0.003). We have shown that there is a high frequency of IgG antibodies to HERV-K env sequences in human sera, both in health and autoimmune rheumatic disease, and that the response is to multiple epitopes. This supports the hypothesis that the autoimmune response to HERV-K is antigen-driven and may be an early stage in the chain of events that leads to tolerance breakdown to other autoantigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Herve
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, London, UK.
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Abstract
Retrovirology emerged as a branch of science at the beginning of the last century. However, a deeper insight into the pathology of retroviruses and retrovirus-induced cancers could only be gained after the advent of modern biochemical and molecular biological techniques in the 1970s and 1980s. This study gives an overview of the known and well-characterised exogenous oncogenic animal retroviruses and the only human oncoretrovirus discovered thus far, HTLV-1. It briefly reviews retrovirus genetics, mechanisms of oncogenic transformation and malignant diseases caused by retroviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Burmeister
- Freie Universität Berlin, Medizinische Klinik III (Hämatologie, Onkologie, Transfusionsmedizin), Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany
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