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Dopkins N, Nixon DF. Activation of human endogenous retroviruses and its physiological consequences. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024; 25:212-222. [PMID: 37872387 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-023-00674-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are abundant sequences that persist within the human genome as remnants of ancient retroviral infections. These sequences became fixed and accumulate mutations or deletions over time. HERVs have affected human evolution and physiology by providing a unique repertoire of coding and non-coding sequences to the genome. In healthy individuals, HERVs participate in immune responses, formation of syncytiotrophoblasts and cell-fate specification. In this Review, we discuss how endogenized retroviral motifs and regulatory sequences have been co-opted into human physiology and how they are tightly regulated. Infections and mutations can derail this regulation, leading to differential HERV expression, which may contribute to pathologies including neurodegeneration, pathological inflammation and oncogenesis. Emerging evidence demonstrates that HERVs are crucial to human health and represent an understudied facet of many diseases, and we therefore argue that investigating their fundamental properties could improve existing therapies and help develop novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Dopkins
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Douglas F Nixon
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Mantovani F, Kitsou K, Magiorkinis G. HERVs: Expression Control Mechanisms and Interactions in Diseases and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:192. [PMID: 38397182 PMCID: PMC10888493 DOI: 10.3390/genes15020192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are the result of retroviral infections acquired millions of years ago; nowadays, they compose around 8% of human DNA. Multiple mechanisms have been employed for endogenous retroviral deactivation, rendering replication and retrotransposition defective, while some of them have been co-opted to serve host evolutionary advantages. A pleiad of mechanisms retains the delicate balance of HERV expression in modern humans. Thus, epigenetic modifications, such as DNA and histone methylation, acetylation, deamination, chromatin remodeling, and even post-transcriptional control are recruited. In this review, we aim to summarize the main HERV silencing pathways, revisit paradigms of human disease with a HERV component, and emphasize the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and HERV interactions during HIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gkikas Magiorkinis
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; (F.M.); (K.K.)
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Wu Q, Fang L, Wang Y, Yang P. Unraveling the role of ZNF506 as a human PBS-pro-targeting protein for ERVP repression. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:10309-10325. [PMID: 37697430 PMCID: PMC10602909 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Krüppel-associated box zinc finger proteins (KZFPs) function as a defense mechanism to maintain the genome stability of higher vertebrates by regulating the transcriptional activities of transposable elements (TEs). While previous studies have characterized ZFP809 as responsible for binding and repressing ERVs containing a proline tRNA primer-binding site (PBS-Pro) in mice, comparable KZFPs have not been identified in humans yet. Here, we identified ZNF506 as a PBS-Pro-binding protein in humans, which functions as a transcriptional repressor of PBS-Pro-utilizing retroviruses by recruiting heterochromatic modifications. Although they have similar functions, the low protein similarities between ZNF506, ZFP809 and KZFPs of other species suggest their independent evolution against the invasion of PBS-Pro-utilizing retroviruses into their respective ancestor genomes after species divergence. We also explored the link between ZNF506 and leukemia. Our findings suggest that ZNF506 is a unique human KZFP that can bind to PBS-Pro, highlighting the diverse evolution of KZFPs in defending against retroviral invasions. Additionally, our study provides insights into the potential role of ZNF506 in leukemia, contributing to the expanding knowledge of KZFPs' crucial function in disease and genome stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Wu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Lu Fang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yixuan Wang
- Translational Medical Center for Stem Cell Therapy & Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Peng Yang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation, Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
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Chang YS, Hsu MH, Chung CC, Chen HD, Tu SJ, Lee YT, Yen JC, Liu TC, Chang JG. Comprehensive Analysis and Drug Modulation of Human Endogenous Retrovirus in Hepatocellular Carcinomas. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3664. [PMID: 37509325 PMCID: PMC10377948 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15143664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) play an important role in the development of cancer and many diseases. Here, we comprehensively explored the impact of HERVs on hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). METHODS We employed Telescope to identify HERVs and quantify their expression in the total RNA sequencing data obtained from 254 HCC samples, comprising 254 tumor tissues and 34 matched normal tissues. RESULTS In total, 3357 locus-specific activations of HERVs were differentially expressed, and 180 were correlated with patient survival. Using these 180 HERVs for classification, we found four subgroups with survival correlation. Higher expression levels of the 180 HERVs were correlated with poorer survival, while age, AFP, some mutations, and copy and structural variants differed among subgroups. The differential expression of host genes in high expression of these 180 HERVs primarily involved the activation of pathways related to immunity and infection, lipid and atherosclerosis, MAPK and NF-kB signaling, and cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions. Conversely, there was a suppression of pathways associated with RNA processing, including nucleocytoplasmic transport, surveillance and ribosome biogenesis, and transcriptional misregulation in cancer pathways. Almost all genes involved in HERV activation restriction, KRAB zinc finger proteins, RNA nucleocytoplasmic transport, stemness, HLA and antigen processing and presentation, and immune checkpoints were overexpressed in cancerous tissues, and many over-expressed HERV-related nearby genes were correlated with high HERV activation and poor survival. Twenty-three immune and stromal cells showed higher expression in non-cancerous than cancerous tissues, and seven were correlated with HERV activation. Small-molecule modulation of alternative splicing (AS) altered the expression of survival-related HERVs and their activation-related genes, as well as nearby genes. CONCLUSION Comprehensive and integrated approaches for evaluating HERV expression and their correlation with specific pathways have the potential to provide new companion diagnostics and therapeutic strategies for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Sian Chang
- Center for Precision Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
- Epigenome Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Hon Hsu
- Center for Precision Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
- Epigenome Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Chun Chung
- Center for Precision Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
- Epigenome Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
| | - Hong-Da Chen
- Center for Precision Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
- Epigenome Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
| | - Siang-Jyun Tu
- Center for Precision Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
- Epigenome Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Ting Lee
- Center for Precision Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
- Epigenome Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
| | - Ju-Chen Yen
- Center for Precision Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
- Epigenome Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
| | - Ta-Chih Liu
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua 50544, Taiwan
| | - Jan-Gowth Chang
- Center for Precision Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
- Epigenome Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
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Abstract
Viruses are the most abundant biological entities on Earth, and yet, they have not received enough consideration in astrobiology. Viruses are also extraordinarily diverse, which is evident in the types of relationships they establish with their host, their strategies to store and replicate their genetic information and the enormous diversity of genes they contain. A viral population, especially if it corresponds to a virus with an RNA genome, can contain an array of sequence variants that greatly exceeds what is present in most cell populations. The fact that viruses always need cellular resources to multiply means that they establish very close interactions with cells. Although in the short term these relationships may appear to be negative for life, it is evident that they can be beneficial in the long term. Viruses are one of the most powerful selective pressures that exist, accelerating the evolution of defense mechanisms in the cellular world. They can also exchange genetic material with the host during the infection process, providing organisms with capacities that favor the colonization of new ecological niches or confer an advantage over competitors, just to cite a few examples. In addition, viruses have a relevant participation in the biogeochemical cycles of our planet, contributing to the recycling of the matter necessary for the maintenance of life. Therefore, although viruses have traditionally been excluded from the tree of life, the structure of this tree is largely the result of the interactions that have been established throughout the intertwined history of the cellular and the viral worlds. We do not know how other possible biospheres outside our planet could be, but it is clear that viruses play an essential role in the terrestrial one. Therefore, they must be taken into account both to improve our understanding of life that we know, and to understand other possible lives that might exist in the cosmos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio de la Higuera
- Department of Biology, Center for Life in Extreme Environments, Portland State University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Ester Lázaro
- Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), CSIC-INTA, Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain
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Burn A, Roy F, Freeman M, Coffin JM. Widespread expression of the ancient HERV-K (HML-2) provirus group in normal human tissues. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001826. [PMID: 36256614 PMCID: PMC9578601 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) transcripts are known to be highly expressed in cancers, yet their activity in nondiseased tissue is largely unknown. Using the GTEx RNA-seq dataset from normal tissue sampled at autopsy, we characterized individual expression of the recent HERV-K (HML-2) provirus group across 13,000 different samples of 54 different tissues from 948 individuals. HML-2 transcripts could be identified in every tissue sampled and were elevated in the cerebellum, pituitary, testis, and thyroid. A total of 37 different individual proviruses were expressed in 1 or more tissues, representing all 3 LTR5 subgroups. Nine proviruses were identified as having long terminal repeat (LTR)-driven transcription, 7 of which belonged to the most recent LTR5HS subgroup. Proviruses of different subgroups displayed a bias in tissue expression, which may be associated with differences in transcription factor binding sites in their LTRs. Provirus expression was greater in evolutionarily older proviruses with an earliest shared ancestor of gorilla or older. HML-2 expression was significantly affected by biological sex in 1 tissue, while age and timing of death (Hardy score) had little effect. Proviruses containing intact gag, pro, and env open reading frames (ORFs) were expressed in the dataset, with almost every tissue measured potentially expressing at least 1 intact ORF (gag). Human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) transcripts are known to be highly expressed in cancers, but what is their activity in normal tissue? This study uses unique patterns of HERV-K RNA expression in the large GEx dataset from non-diseased tissue sites to provide new insights into both the coevolution of HERV-K with our primate ancestors and their current role in human biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aidan Burn
- Program in Genetics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Farrah Roy
- Immuneering Corporation, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Michael Freeman
- Program in Genetics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - John M. Coffin
- Program in Genetics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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