Human Endogenous Retroviruses in Neurological Diseases

Abstract

The causes of multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis have long remained elusive. A new category of pathogenic components, normally dormant within human genomes, has been identified: human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs). These represent ∼8% of the human genome, and environmental factors have reproducibly been shown to trigger their expression. The resulting production of envelope (Env) proteins from HERV-W and HERV-K appears to engage pathophysiological pathways leading to the pathognomonic features of MS and ALS, respectively. Pathogenic HERV elements may thus provide a missing link in understanding these complex diseases. Moreover, their neutralization may represent a promising strategy to establish novel and more powerful therapeutic approaches.

Cited by papers we hold 4

• HERV-W envelope expression in blood leukocytes as a marker of disease severity of COVID-19 · 2021
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• Pathological manifestation of human endogenous retrovirus K in frontotemporal dementia · 2021
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• Transposable Elements, Inflammation, and Neurological Disease · 2019
  No notice
• SMARCAD1 ATPase activity is required to silence endogenous retroviruses in embryonic stem cells · 2019
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