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Carra S, Fabian B, Taghavi H, Milanetti E, Giliberti V, Ruocco G, Shepherd J, Vendruscolo M, Fuxreiter M. Virus-like particles of retroviral origin in protein aggregation and neurodegenerative diseases. Mol Aspects Med 2025; 103:101369. [PMID: 40398193 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2025.101369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2025] [Revised: 05/06/2025] [Accepted: 05/10/2025] [Indexed: 05/23/2025]
Abstract
A wide range of human diseases are associated with protein misfolding and amyloid aggregates. Recent studies suggest that in certain neurological disorders, including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) and various tauopathies, protein aggregation may be promoted by virus-like particles (VLPs) formed by endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). The molecular mechanisms by which these VLPs contribute to protein aggregation, however, remain enigmatic. Here, we discuss possible molecular mechanisms of ERV-derived VLPs in the formation and spread of protein aggregates. An intriguing possibility is that liquid-like condensates may facilitate the formation of both protein aggregates and ERV-derived VLPs. We also describe how RNA chaperoning, and the encapsulation and trafficking of misfolded proteins, may contribute to protein homeostasis through the elimination of protein aggregates from cells. Based on these insights, we discuss future potential therapeutic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Carra
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Balazs Fabian
- Department of Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Hamed Taghavi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Edoardo Milanetti
- Department of Physics, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy; Center for Life Nano & Neuro Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Giliberti
- Department of Physics, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy; Center for Life Nano & Neuro Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Ruocco
- Department of Physics, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy; Center for Life Nano & Neuro Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Monika Fuxreiter
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
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