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Perron H. A tale of a hidden family of genetic immigrants. Microbes Infect 2024:105387. [PMID: 38944111 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2024.105387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Hervé Perron
- GeNeuro, 3 chemin du Pré-Fleuri, 1228 Plan-les-ouates, Geneva, Switzerland; Geneuro-Innovation, 60A, avenue Rockefeller, 69008 lyon, France
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2
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Duarte RRR, Pain O, Bendall ML, de Mulder Rougvie M, Marston JL, Selvackadunco S, Troakes C, Leung SK, Bamford RA, Mill J, O'Reilly PF, Srivastava DP, Nixon DF, Powell TR. Integrating human endogenous retroviruses into transcriptome-wide association studies highlights novel risk factors for major psychiatric conditions. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3803. [PMID: 38778015 PMCID: PMC11111684 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48153-z] [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: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are repetitive elements previously implicated in major psychiatric conditions, but their role in aetiology remains unclear. Here, we perform specialised transcriptome-wide association studies that consider HERV expression quantified to precise genomic locations, using RNA sequencing and genetic data from 792 post-mortem brain samples. In Europeans, we identify 1238 HERVs with expression regulated in cis, of which 26 represent expression signals associated with psychiatric disorders, with ten being conditionally independent from neighbouring expression signals. Of these, five are additionally significant in fine-mapping analyses and thus are considered high confidence risk HERVs. These include two HERV expression signatures specific to schizophrenia risk, one shared between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and one specific to major depressive disorder. No robust signatures are identified for autism spectrum conditions or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Europeans, or for any psychiatric trait in other ancestries, although this is likely a result of relatively limited statistical power. Ultimately, our study highlights extensive HERV expression and regulation in the adult cortex, including in association with psychiatric disorder risk, therefore providing a rationale for exploring neurological HERV expression in complex neuropsychiatric traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo R R Duarte
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Oliver Pain
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Matthew L Bendall
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Jez L Marston
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sashika Selvackadunco
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC London Neurodegenerative Diseases Brain Bank, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Claire Troakes
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC London Neurodegenerative Diseases Brain Bank, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Szi Kay Leung
- Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Rosemary A Bamford
- Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Jonathan Mill
- Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Paul F O'Reilly
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Deepak P Srivastava
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Douglas F Nixon
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
- Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Timothy R Powell
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.
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3
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Gutman EG, Salvio AL, Fernandes RA, Duarte LA, Raposo-Vedovi JV, Alcaraz HF, Teixeira MA, Passos GF, de Medeiros KQM, Hammerle MB, Pires KL, Vasconcelos CCF, Leon LAA, Figueiredo CP, Alves-Leon SV. Long COVID: plasma levels of neurofilament light chain in mild COVID-19 patients with neurocognitive symptoms. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02554-0. [PMID: 38678084 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02554-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
It is well known the potential of severe acute respiratory coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection to induce post-acute sequelae, a condition called Long COVID. This syndrome includes several symptoms, but the central nervous system (CNS) main one is neurocognitive dysfunction. Recently it has been demonstrated the relevance of plasma levels of neurofilament light chain (pNfL), as a biomarker of early involvement of the CNS in COVID-19. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between pNfL in patients with post-acute neurocognitive symptoms and the potential of NfL as a prognostic biomarker in these cases. A group of 63 long COVID patients ranging from 18 to 59 years-old were evaluated, submitted to a neurocognitive battery assessment, and subdivided in different groups, according to results. Plasma samples were collected during the long COVID assessment and used for measurement of pNfL with the Single molecule array (SIMOA) assays. Levels of pNfL were significantly higher in long COVID patients with neurocognitive symptoms when compared to HC (p = 0.0031). Long COVID patients with cognitive impairment and fatigue symptoms presented higher pNfL levels when compared to long COVID patients without these symptoms, individually and combined (p = 0.0263, p = 0.0480, and 0.0142, respectively). Correlation analysis showed that levels of cognitive lost and exacerbation of fatigue in the neurocognitive evaluation had a significative correlation with higher pNfL levels (p = 0.0219 and 0.0255, respectively). Previous reports suggested that pNfL levels are related with higher risk of severity and predict lethality of COVID-19. Our findings demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 infection seems to have a long-term impact on the brain, even in patients who presented mild acute disease. NfL measurements might be useful to identify CNS involvement in long COVID associated with neurocognitive symptoms and to identify who will need continuous monitoring and treatment support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Gouvea Gutman
- Translational Neuroscience Laboratory (LabNet), Biomedical Institute, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro/UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, ZIP CODE 20211-040, Brazil
- Clinical Medicine post-graduation program, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Andreza Lemos Salvio
- Translational Neuroscience Laboratory (LabNet), Biomedical Institute, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro/UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, ZIP CODE 20211-040, Brazil
| | - Renan Amphilophio Fernandes
- Translational Neuroscience Laboratory (LabNet), Biomedical Institute, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro/UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, ZIP CODE 20211-040, Brazil
| | - Larissa Araujo Duarte
- Translational Neuroscience Laboratory (LabNet), Biomedical Institute, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro/UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, ZIP CODE 20211-040, Brazil
- Clinical Medicine post-graduation program, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Jessica Vasques Raposo-Vedovi
- Translational Neuroscience Laboratory (LabNet), Biomedical Institute, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro/UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, ZIP CODE 20211-040, Brazil
| | - Helena França Alcaraz
- Translational Neuroscience Laboratory (LabNet), Biomedical Institute, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro/UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, ZIP CODE 20211-040, Brazil
| | - Milene Ataíde Teixeira
- Translational Neuroscience Laboratory (LabNet), Biomedical Institute, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro/UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, ZIP CODE 20211-040, Brazil
| | | | | | - Mariana Beiral Hammerle
- Division of Neurology, Gaffrée and Guinle University Hospital, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro/UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Karina Lebeis Pires
- Division of Neurology, Gaffrée and Guinle University Hospital, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro/UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Soniza Vieira Alves-Leon
- Translational Neuroscience Laboratory (LabNet), Biomedical Institute, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro/UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, ZIP CODE 20211-040, Brazil.
- Department of Neurology, Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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4
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Sieler M, Dittmar T. Cell Fusion and Syncytia Formation in Cancer. Results Probl Cell Differ 2024; 71:433-465. [PMID: 37996689 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-37936-9_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The natural phenomenon of cell-cell fusion does not only take place in physiological processes, such as placentation, myogenesis, or osteoclastogenesis, but also in pathophysiological processes, such as cancer. More than a century ago postulated, today the hypothesis that the fusion of cancer cells with normal cells leads to the formation of cancer hybrid cells with altered properties is in scientific consensus. Some studies that have investigated the mechanisms and conditions for the fusion of cancer cells with other cells, as well as studies that have characterized the resulting cancer hybrid cells, are presented in this review. Hypoxia and the cytokine TNFα, for example, have been found to promote cell fusion. In addition, it has been found that both the protein Syncytin-1, which normally plays a role in placentation, and phosphatidylserine signaling on the cell membrane are involved in the fusion of cancer cells with other cells. In human cancer, cancer hybrid cells were detected not only in the primary tumor, but also in the circulation of patients as so-called circulating hybrid cells, where they often correlated with a worse outcome. Although some data are available, the questions of how and especially why cancer cells fuse with other cells are still not fully answered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mareike Sieler
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Biomedical Education and Research (ZBAF), University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany.
| | - Thomas Dittmar
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Biomedical Education and Research (ZBAF), University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany
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5
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Kyriakou E, Magiorkinis G. Interplay between endogenous and exogenous human retroviruses. Trends Microbiol 2023; 31:933-946. [PMID: 37019721 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
In humans, retroviruses thrive more as symbionts than as parasites. Apart from the only two modern exogenous human retroviruses (human T-cell lymphotropic and immunodeficiency viruses; HTLV and HIV, respectively), ~8% of the human genome is occupied by ancient retroviral DNA [human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs)]. Here, we review the recent discoveries about the interactions between the two groups, the impact of infection by exogenous retroviruses on the expression of HERVs, the effect of HERVs on the pathogenicity of HIV and HTLV and on the severity of the diseases caused by them, and the antiviral protection that HERVs can allegedly provide to the host. Tracing the crosstalk between contemporary retroviruses and their endogenized ancestors will provide better understanding of the retroviral world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Kyriakou
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Gkikas Magiorkinis
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
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6
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Petrone V, Fanelli M, Giudice M, Toschi N, Conti A, Maracchioni C, Iannetta M, Resta C, Cipriani C, Miele MT, Amati F, Andreoni M, Sarmati L, Rogliani P, Novelli G, Garaci E, Rasi G, Sinibaldi-Vallebona P, Minutolo A, Matteucci C, Balestrieri E, Grelli S. Expression profile of HERVs and inflammatory mediators detected in nasal mucosa as a predictive biomarker of COVID-19 severity. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1155624. [PMID: 37283924 PMCID: PMC10239953 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1155624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Our research group and others demonstrated the implication of the human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) in SARS-CoV-2 infection and their association with disease progression, suggesting HERVs as contributing factors in COVID-19 immunopathology. To identify early predictive biomarkers of the COVID-19 severity, we analyzed the expression of HERVs and inflammatory mediators in SARS-CoV-2-positive and -negative nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs with respect to biochemical parameters and clinical outcome. Methods Residuals of swab samples (20 SARS-CoV-2-negative and 43 SARS-CoV-2-positive) were collected during the first wave of the pandemic and expression levels of HERVs and inflammatory mediators were analyzed by qRT-Real time PCR. Results The results obtained show that infection with SARS-CoV-2 resulted in a general increase in the expression of HERVs and mediators of the immune response. In particular, SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with increased expression of HERV-K and HERV-W, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, TNF-α, MCP-1, INF-γ, TLR-3, and TLR-7, while lower levels of IL-10, IFN-α, IFN-β, and TLR-4 were found in individuals who underwent hospitalization. Moreover, higher expression of HERV-W, IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-α, and IFN-β reflected the respiratory outcome of patients during hospitalization. Interestingly, a machine learning model was able to classify hospitalized vs not hospitalized patients with good accuracy based on the expression levels of HERV-K, HERV-W, IL-6, TNF-a, TLR-3, TLR-7, and the N gene of SARS-CoV-2. These latest biomarkers also correlated with parameters of coagulation and inflammation. Discussion Overall, the present results suggest HERVs as contributing elements in COVID-19 and early genomic biomarkers to predict COVID-19 severity and disease outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vita Petrone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Marialaura Fanelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Giudice
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Toschi
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
- Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Allegra Conti
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Marco Iannetta
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Resta
- Respiratory Medicine Unit, Policlinic of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Cipriani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Martino Tony Miele
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Amati
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Andreoni
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Loredana Sarmati
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Rogliani
- Respiratory Medicine Unit, Policlinic of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Novelli
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
- Neuromed IRCCS Institute, Pozzilli, IS, Italy
- University of Nevada, Department of Pharmacology, Reno, NV, United States
| | | | - Guido Rasi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Sinibaldi-Vallebona
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
- National Research Council, Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Minutolo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Matteucci
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuela Balestrieri
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Sandro Grelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
- Virology Unit, Policlinic of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
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7
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Dittmar T, Hass R. Intrinsic signalling factors associated with cancer cell-cell fusion. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:68. [PMID: 37016404 PMCID: PMC10071245 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01085-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular fusion e.g. between cancer cells and normal cells represents a stepwise process that is tightly regulated. During a pre-hybrid preparation program somatic cells and/or cancer cells are promoted to a pro-fusogenic state as a prerequisite to prepare a fusion process. A pro-fusogenic state requires significant changes including restructure of the cytoskeleton, e.g., by the formation of F-actin. Moreover, distinct plasma membrane lipids such as phosphatidylserine play an important role during cell fusion. In addition, the expression of distinct fusogenic factors such as syncytins and corresponding receptors are of fundamental importance to enable cellular mergers. Subsequent hybrid formation and fusion are followed by a post-hybrid selection process. Fusion among normal cells is important and often required during organismal development. Cancer cells fusion appears more rarely and is associated with the generation of new cancer hybrid cell populations. These cancer hybrid cells contribute to an elevated tumour plasticity by altered metastatic behaviour, changes in therapeutic and apoptotic responses, and even in the formation of cancer stem/ initiating cells. While many parts within this multi-step cascade are still poorly understood, this review article predominantly focusses on the intracellular necessities for fusion among cancer cells or with other cell populations of the tumour microenvironment. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Dittmar
- Institute of Immunology, Centre for Biomedical Education and Research (ZBAF), Witten/Herdecke University, Stockumer Str. 10, 58448, Witten, Germany.
| | - Ralf Hass
- Biochemistry and Tumor Biology Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
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Li X, Wu X, Li W, Yan Q, Zhou P, Xia Y, Yao W, Zhu F. HERV-W ENV Induces Innate Immune Activation and Neuronal Apoptosis via linc01930/cGAS Axis in Recent-Onset Schizophrenia. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24033000. [PMID: 36769337 PMCID: PMC9917391 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24033000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a severe neuropsychiatric disorder affecting about 1% of individuals worldwide. Increased innate immune activation and neuronal apoptosis are common findings in schizophrenia. Interferon beta (IFN-β), an essential cytokine in promoting and regulating innate immune responses, causes neuronal apoptosis in vitro. However, the precise pathogenesis of schizophrenia is unknown. Recent studies indicate that a domesticated endogenous retroviral envelope glycoprotein of the W family (HERV-W ENV, also called ERVWE1 or syncytin 1), derived from the endogenous retrovirus group W member 1 (ERVWE1) locus on chromosome 7q21.2, has a high level in schizophrenia. Here, we found an increased serum IFN-β level in schizophrenia and showed a positive correlation with HERV-W ENV. In addition, serum long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1930 (linc01930), decreased in schizophrenia, was negatively correlated with HERV-W ENV and IFN-β. In vitro experiments showed that linc01930, mainly in the nucleus and with noncoding functions, was repressed by HERV-W ENV through promoter activity suppression. Further studies indicated that HERV-W ENV increased IFN-β expression and neuronal apoptosis by restraining the expression of linc01930. Furthermore, HERV-W ENV enhanced cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) and stimulator of interferon genes protein (STING) expression and interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) phosphorylation in neuronal cells. Notably, cGAS interacted with HERV-W ENV and triggered IFN-β expression and neuronal apoptosis caused by HERV-W ENV. Moreover, Linc01930 participated in the increased neuronal apoptosis and expression level of cGAS and IFN-β induced by HERV-W ENV. To summarize, our results suggested that linc01930 and IFN-β might be novel potential blood-based biomarkers in schizophrenia. The totality of these results also showed that HERV-W ENV facilitated antiviral innate immune response, resulting in neuronal apoptosis through the linc01930/cGAS/STING pathway in schizophrenia. Due to its monoclonal antibody GNbAC1 application in clinical trials, we considered HERV-W ENV might be a reliable therapeutic choice for schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuhang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, No. 185 Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Xiulin Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, No. 185 Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Wenshi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, No. 185 Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Qiujin Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, No. 185 Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Ping Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, No. 185 Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yaru Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, No. 185 Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Wei Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, No. 185 Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Fan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, No. 185 Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy & Immunology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Correspondence:
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9
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Fan TJ, Cui J. Human Endogenous Retroviruses in Diseases. Subcell Biochem 2023; 106:403-439. [PMID: 38159236 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-40086-5_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), which are conserved sequences of ancient retroviruses, are widely distributed in the human genome. Although most HERVs have been rendered inactive by evolution, some have continued to exhibit important cytological functions. HERVs in the human genome perform dual functions: on the one hand, they are involved in important physiological processes such as placental development and immune regulation; on the other hand, their aberrant expression is closely associated with the pathological processes of several diseases, such as cancers, autoimmune diseases, and viral infections. HERVs can also regulate a variety of host cellular functions, including the expression of protein-coding genes and regulatory elements that have evolved from HERVs. Here, we present recent research on the roles of HERVs in viral infections and cancers, including the dysregulation of HERVs in various viral infections, HERV-induced epigenetic modifications of histones (such as methylation and acetylation), and the potential mechanisms of HERV-mediated antiviral immunity. We also describe therapies to improve the efficacy of vaccines and medications either by directly or indirectly targeting HERVs, depending on the HERV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-Jiao Fan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Cui
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
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10
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Dittmar T, Hass R. Extracellular Events Involved in Cancer Cell-Cell Fusion. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232416071. [PMID: 36555709 PMCID: PMC9784959 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232416071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Fusion among different cell populations represents a rare process that is mediated by both intrinsic and extracellular events. Cellular hybrid formation is relayed by orchestrating tightly regulated signaling pathways that can involve both normal and neoplastic cells. Certain important cell merger processes are often required during distinct organismal and tissue development, including placenta and skeletal muscle. In a neoplastic environment, however, cancer cell fusion can generate new cancer hybrid cells. Following survival during a subsequent post-hybrid selection process (PHSP), the new cancer hybrid cells express different tumorigenic properties. These can include elevated proliferative capacity, increased metastatic potential, resistance to certain therapeutic compounds, and formation of cancer stem-like cells, all of which characterize significantly enhanced tumor plasticity. However, many parts within this multi-step cascade are still poorly understood. Aside from intrinsic factors, cell fusion is particularly affected by extracellular conditions, including an inflammatory microenvironment, viruses, pH and ionic stress, hypoxia, and exosome signaling. Accordingly, the present review article will primarily highlight the influence of extracellular events that contribute to cell fusion in normal and tumorigenic tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Dittmar
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Biomedical Education and Research (ZBAF), Witten/Herdecke University, Stockumer Str. 10, 58448 Witten, Germany
- Correspondence: (T.D.); (R.H.); Tel.: +49-2302-926165 (T.D.); +49-5115-326070 (R.H.)
| | - Ralf Hass
- Biochemistry and Tumor Biology Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Correspondence: (T.D.); (R.H.); Tel.: +49-2302-926165 (T.D.); +49-5115-326070 (R.H.)
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11
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Cordeiro PAS, Assone T, Prates G, Tedeschi MRM, Fonseca LAM, Casseb J. The role of IFN-γ production during retroviral infections: an important cytokine involved in chronic inflammation and pathogenesis. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2022; 64:e64. [PMID: 36197425 PMCID: PMC9528752 DOI: 10.1590/s1678-9946202264064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) plays a crucial role in viral infections by preventing viral replication and in the promotion of innate and adaptive immune responses. However, IFN-gamma can exert distinct effects in different persistent viral infections. The long-term overproduction of IFN-γ in retroviral infections, such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), and human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), resulting in inflammation, may cause neuronal damage. This review is provocative about the role of IFN-γ during persistent retroviral infections and its relationship with the causation of some neurological disorders that are important for public health.
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12
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Kitsou K, Iliopoulou M, Spoulou V, Lagiou P, Magiorkinis G. Viral Causality of Human Cancer and Potential Roles of Human Endogenous Retroviruses in the Multi-Omics Era: An Evolutionary Epidemiology Review. Front Oncol 2021; 11:687631. [PMID: 34778024 PMCID: PMC8586426 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.687631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Being responsible for almost 12% of cancers worldwide, viruses are among the oldest known and most prevalent oncogenic agents. The quality of the evidence for the in vivo tumorigenic potential of microorganisms varies, thus accordingly, viruses were classified in 4 evidence-based categories by the International Agency for Research on Cancer in 2009. Since then, our understanding of the role of viruses in cancer has significantly improved, firstly due to the emergence of high throughput sequencing technologies that allowed the “brute-force” recovery of unknown viral genomes. At the same time, multi-omics approaches unravelled novel virus-host interactions in stem-cell biology. We now know that viral elements, either exogenous or endogenous, have multiple sometimes conflicting roles in human pathophysiology and the development of cancer. Here we integrate emerging evidence on viral causality in human cancer from basic mechanisms to clinical studies. We analyze viral tumorigenesis under the scope of deep-in-time human-virus evolutionary relationships and critically comment on the evidence through the eyes of clinical epidemiology, firstly by reviewing recognized oncoviruses and their mechanisms of inducing tumorigenesis, and then by examining the potential role of integrated viruses in our genome in the process of carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantina Kitsou
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Immunobiology and Vaccinology Research Laboratory, First Department of Peadiatrics, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Iliopoulou
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Vana Spoulou
- Immunobiology and Vaccinology Research Laboratory, First Department of Peadiatrics, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Pagona Lagiou
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Gkikas Magiorkinis
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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13
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Li X, Guo Y, Li H, Huang X, Pei Z, Wang X, Liu Y, Jia L, Li T, Bao Z, Wang X, Han L, Han J, Li J, Li L. Infection by Diverse HIV-1 Subtypes Leads to Different Elevations in HERV-K Transcriptional Levels in Human T Cell Lines. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:662573. [PMID: 34079529 PMCID: PMC8165174 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.662573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) make up ~8% of the human genome, and for millions of years, they have been subject to strict biological regulation. Many HERVs do not participate in normal physiological activities in the body. However, in some pathological conditions, they can be abnormally activated. For example, HIV infection can cause abnormal activation of HERVs, and under different infection conditions, HERV expression may be different. We observed significant differences in HERV-K transcription levels among HIV-1 subtype-infected individuals. The transcriptional levels in the HERV-K gag region were significantly increased in HIV-1 B subtype-infected patients, while the transcriptional levels in the HERV-K pol region were significantly increased in CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC subtype-infected patients. In vitro, the transcriptional levels of HEVR-K were increased 5-fold and 15-fold in MT2 cells transfected with two different HIV-1 strains (B and CRF01_AE, respectively). However, there was no significant difference in transcriptional levels among regions of HERV-K. When MT2 cells were infected with different subtypes of HIV-1 Tat proteins (B, CRF01_AE), which is constructed by lentiviruses, and the transcription levels of HERV-K were increased 4-fold and 2-fold, respectively. Thus, different subtypes of HIV-1 have different effects on HERV-K transcription levels, which may be caused by many factors, not only Tat protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Department of AIDS Research, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Yaolin Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Department of AIDS Research, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Hanping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Department of AIDS Research, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaofeng Huang
- The Second Medical Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhichao Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Department of AIDS Research, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaolin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Department of AIDS Research, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Yongjian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Department of AIDS Research, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Department of AIDS Research, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Tianyi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Department of AIDS Research, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Zuoyi Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Department of AIDS Research, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaorui Wang
- Department of Microbiological Laboratory Technology, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Control and Prevention in Universities of Shandong, Jinan, China
| | - Leilei Han
- School of Public Health and Affiliated Shijiazhuang Fifth Hospital, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
| | - Jingwan Han
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Department of AIDS Research, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Jingyun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Department of AIDS Research, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Department of AIDS Research, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
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14
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Römer C. Viruses and Endogenous Retroviruses as Roots for Neuroinflammation and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:648629. [PMID: 33776642 PMCID: PMC7994506 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.648629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Many neurodegenerative diseases are associated with chronic inflammation in the brain and periphery giving rise to a continuous imbalance of immune processes. Next to inflammation markers, activation of transposable elements, including long intrespersed nuclear elements (LINE) elements and endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), has been identified during neurodegenerative disease progression and even correlated with the clinical severity of the disease. ERVs are remnants of viral infections in the human genome acquired during evolution. Upon activation, they produce transcripts and the phylogenetically youngest ones are still able to produce viral-like particles. In addition, ERVs can bind transcription factors and modulate immune response. Being between own and foreign, ERVs are reviewed in the context of viral infections of the central nervous system, in aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, this review tests the hypothesis that viral infection may be a trigger at the onset of neuroinflammation and that ERVs sustain the inflammatory imbalance by summarizing existing data of neurodegenerative diseases associated with viruses and/or ERVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Römer
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, The Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Berlin, Germany
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15
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The Relationship of the Mechanisms of the Pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis and the Expression of Endogenous Retroviruses. BIOLOGY 2020; 9:biology9120464. [PMID: 33322628 PMCID: PMC7764762 DOI: 10.3390/biology9120464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Multiple sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system, develops at an early age and often leads to a disability. The etiological cause of the disease has not been fully elucidated, and as a result, no effective treatment is available. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the relationship between the expression of human endogenous retroviruses and the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. The epigenetic mechanisms of transcriptional regulation, the role of transcription factors, cytokines, and exogenous viruses are also addressed in this review. The elucidation of the mechanisms of an increase in endogenous retrovirus expression in multiple sclerosis could help to develop therapeutic strategies and novel methods for early diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Abstract Two human endogenous retroviruses of the HERV-W family can act as cofactors triggering multiple sclerosis (MS): MS-associated retrovirus (MSRV) and ERVWE1. Endogenous retroviral elements are believed to have integrated in our ancestors’ DNA millions of years ago. Their involvement in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including neurodegenerative pathologies, has been demonstrated. Numerous studies have shown a correlation between the deterioration of patients’ health and increased expression of endogenous retroviruses. The exact causes and mechanisms of endogenous retroviruses activation remains unknown, which hampers development of therapeutics. In this review, we will summarize the main characteristics of human endogenous W retroviruses and describe the putative mechanisms of activation, including epigenetic mechanisms, humoral factors as well as the role of the exogenous viral infections.
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16
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Comprehensive Analysis of HERV Transcriptome in HIV+ Cells: Absence of HML2 Activation and General Downregulation of Individual HERV Loci. Viruses 2020; 12:v12040481. [PMID: 32340287 PMCID: PMC7232394 DOI: 10.3390/v12040481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) expression is currently studied for its possible activation by HIV infection. In this context, the HERV-K(HML2) group is the most investigated: it has been proposed that HIV-1 infection can prompt HML2 transcription, and that HML2 proteins can affect HIV-1 replication, either complementing HIV or possibly influencing antiretroviral therapy. However, little information is available on the expression of other HERV groups in HIV infection. In the present study, we used a bioinformatics pipeline to investigate the transcriptional modulation of approximately 3250 well-characterized HERV loci, comparing their expression in a public RNA-seq profile, including a HIV-1-infected and a control T cell culture. In our pilot study, we found approximately 200 HERV loci belonging to 35 HERV groups that were expressed in one or both conditions, with transcripts per million (TPM) values from 1 to >500. Intriguingly, HML2 elements constituted only the 3% of expressed HERV loci, and in most cases (160) HERV expression was downregulated in the HIV-infected culture, showing from a 1- to 14-fold decrease as compared to uninfected cells. HERV transcriptome has been inferred de novo and employed to predict a total of about 950 HERV open reading frames (ORFs). These have been validated according to the coding potential and estimated abundance of the corresponding transcripts, leading to a set of 57 putative proteins potentially encoded by 23 HERV loci. Analysis showed that some individual loci have a coding potential that deserves further investigation. Among them, a HML6 provirus at locus 19q13.43 was predicted to produce a transcript showing the highest TPM among HERV-derived transcripts, being upregulated in HIV+ cells and inferred to produce Gag and Env puteins with possible biological activity.
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17
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The roles played by TLR4 in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis; A systematic review article. Immunol Lett 2020; 220:63-70. [PMID: 32032617 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2020.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2019] [Revised: 01/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a world-wide pro-inflammatory based disease, which is prevalent among young individuals. The etiology of the disease and its related complications are yet to be clarified. It has been hypothesized that environmental factors, including pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and the internal factors such as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), may be the most important inducers/stimulators of the disorder and its related complications. Previous investigations proved that pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs) are the main sensors for the PAMPs and DAMPs. Therefore, it seems that the PRRs have been considered to be the plausible molecules participating in the etiology of MS. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been the widely studied PRRs and their roles have been documented in human-related diseases. TLR4 is the main PRR expressed on the cell surface of several immune cells including macrophages and dendritic cells. Several investigations reported that TLR4 to be the main molecule involved in the pathogenesis of pro-inflammatory based diseases. Thus, it has been hypothesized that TLR4 may be a part of the MS puzzle. This review article discusses the role of TLR4 in the MS pathogenesis using recent in vitro and in vivo investigations.
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18
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Endogenous Retroviruses Activity as a Molecular Signature of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20236050. [PMID: 31801288 PMCID: PMC6928979 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20236050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are genetic elements resulting from relics of ancestral infection of germline cells, now recognized as cofactors in the etiology of several complex diseases. Here we present a review of findings supporting the role of the abnormal HERVs activity in neurodevelopmental disorders. The derailment of brain development underlies numerous neuropsychiatric conditions, likely starting during prenatal life and carrying on during subsequent maturation of the brain. Autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, and schizophrenia are neurodevelopmental disorders that arise clinically during early childhood or adolescence, currently attributed to the interplay among genetic vulnerability, environmental risk factors, and maternal immune activation. The role of HERVs in human embryogenesis, their intrinsic responsiveness to external stimuli, and the interaction with the immune system support the involvement of HERVs in the derailed neurodevelopmental process. Although definitive proofs that HERVs are involved in neurobehavioral alterations are still lacking, both preclinical models and human studies indicate that the abnormal expression of ERVs could represent a neurodevelopmental disorders-associated biological trait in affected individuals and their parents.
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19
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Multiple Signatures of the JC Polyomavirus in Paired Normal and Altered Colorectal Mucosa Indicate a Link with Human Colorectal Cancer, but Not with Cancer Progression. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20235965. [PMID: 31783512 PMCID: PMC6928985 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20235965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 11/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The JC polyomavirus (JCV) has been repeatedly but discordantly detected in healthy colonic mucosa, adenomatous polyps, and colorectal cancer (CRC), and proposed to contribute to oncogenesis. The controversies may derive from differences in JCV targets, patient’s cohorts, and methods. Studies of simultaneous detection, quantification, and characterization of JCV presence/expression in paired samples of normal/altered tissues of the same patient are lacking. Therefore, we simultaneously quantified JCV presence (DNA) and expression (mRNA and protein) of T-antigen (T-Ag), Viral Protein 1 (Vp1), and miR-J1-5p in paired normal/altered tissues of CRC or polyps, and from controls. JCV signatures were found in most samples. They increased in patients, but were higher in normal mucosa than in corresponding polyp or CRC lesions. JCV non-coding control region (NCCR) DNA rearrangements increased in CRC patients, also in normal mucosa, thus before the onset of the lesion. A new ∆98bp NCCR DNA rearrangement was detected. T-Ag levels were higher in normal mucosa than in adenoma and adenocarcinoma lesions, but decreased to levels of controls in established CRC lesions. In CRC, miR-J1-5p expression decreased with CRC progression. Vp1 expression was not detected. The data indicate a JCV link with the disease, but possible JCV contributes to oncogenesis should occur at pre-polyp stages.
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20
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Milo R, Korczyn AD, Manouchehri N, Stüve O. The temporal and causal relationship between inflammation and neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler 2019; 26:876-886. [PMID: 31682184 DOI: 10.1177/1352458519886943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
It is currently incompletely understood whether inflammation and neurodegeneration are causally related in multiple sclerosis (MS). The sequence of a potential causal relationship is also unknown. Inflammation is present in rather all clinical stages of MS. Its role in the pathogenesis of MS is supported by histopathological analyses, genetic data, and numerous animal models of MS. All approved disease-modifying therapies that reduce clinical relapses and diminish the accumulation of lesions on neuroimaging are anti-inflammatory. Axonal loss and accelerated brain volume loss can also be detected from clinical disease onset throughout all stages. The expression of neurofilament light chain in cerebrospinal fluid and serum, a scaffolding protein in axons and dendrites, is a biomarker of neuronal injury associated with clinical relapses and reflects neuronal loss during episodes of acute inflammation. The recent association of human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) and its envelope proteins with MS illustrates a pathogenic pathway that causally links central nervous system (CNS)-intrinsic proinflammatory effects and inhibition of myelin repair and neuroregeneration. A review of current data on the causal relationship between inflammation and neurodegeneration in MS identified numerous plausible pathomechanisms that link the two events. Observations from most experimental models appear to favor a pathogenesis in which inflammation precedes neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ron Milo
- Department of Neurology, Barzilai Medical Center, Ashkelon, Israel/Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | - Amos D Korczyn
- Department of Neurology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Navid Manouchehri
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Olaf Stüve
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA/Neurology Section, Medical Service, VA North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, TX, USA/Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, München, Germany
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21
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Expression of HERV Genes as Possible Biomarker and Target in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20153706. [PMID: 31362360 PMCID: PMC6696274 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20153706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are genetic parasites, in-between genetics and environment. Few HERVs retain some coding capability. Sometimes, the host has the advantage of some HERV genes; conversely, HERVs may contribute to pathogenesis. The expression of HERVs depends on several factors, and is regulated epigenetically by stimuli such as inflammation, viral and microbial infections, etc. Increased expression of HERVs occurs in physiological and pathological conditions, in one or more body sites. Several diseases have been attributed to one or more HERVs, particularly neurological diseases. The key problem is to differentiate the expression of a HERV as cause or effect of a disease. To be used as a biomarker, a correlation between the expression of a certain HERV and the disease onset and/or behavior must be found. The greater challenge is to establish a pathogenic role. The criteria defining causal connections between HERVs and diseases include the development of animal models, and disease modulation in humans, by anti-HERV therapeutic antibody. So far, statistically significant correlations between HERVs and diseases have been achieved for HERV-W and multiple sclerosis; disease reproduction in transgenic animals was achieved for HERV-W and multiple sclerosis, and for HERV-K and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Clinical trials for both diseases are in progress.
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22
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Gruchot J, Kremer D, Küry P. Neural Cell Responses Upon Exposure to Human Endogenous Retroviruses. Front Genet 2019; 10:655. [PMID: 31354794 PMCID: PMC6637040 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are ancient retroviral elements, which invaded the human germ line several million years ago. Subsequent retrotransposition events amplified these sequences, resulting in approximately 8% of the human genome being composed of HERV sequences today. These genetic elements, normally dormant within human genomes, can be (re)-activated by environmental factors such as infections with other viruses, leading to the expression of viral proteins and, in some instances, even to viral particle production. Several studies have shown that the expression of these retroviral elements correlates with the onset and progression of neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Further studies provided evidence on additional roles for HERVs in schizophrenia (SCZ). Since these diseases are still not well understood, HERVs might constitute a new category of pathogenic components that could significantly change our understanding of these pathologies. Moreover, knowledge about their mode of action might also help to develop novel and more powerful approaches for the treatment of these complex diseases. Therefore, the main scope of this review is a description of the current knowledge on the involvement of HERV-W and HERV-K in neurological disease specifically focusing on the effects they exert on neural cells of the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Gruchot
- Department of Neurology, Neuroregeneration, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - David Kremer
- Department of Neurology, Neuroregeneration, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Patrick Küry
- Department of Neurology, Neuroregeneration, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
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23
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Fulop T, Witkowski JM, Larbi A, Khalil A, Herbein G, Frost EH. Does HIV infection contribute to increased beta-amyloid synthesis and plaque formation leading to neurodegeneration and Alzheimer's disease? J Neurovirol 2019; 25:634-647. [PMID: 30868421 DOI: 10.1007/s13365-019-00732-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
HIV infection in the combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) era has become a chronic disease with a life expectancy almost identical to those free from this infection. Concomitantly, chronic diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases have emerged as serious clinical problems. HIV-induced cognitive changes, although clinically very diverse are collectively called HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). HAND, which until the introduction of cART manifested clinically as a subcortical disorder, is now considered primarily cognitive disorder, which makes it similar to diseases like Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). The pathogenesis involves either the direct effects of the virus or the effect of viral proteins such as Tat, Ggp120, and Nef. These proteins are either capable of destroying neurons directly by inducing neurotoxic mediators or by initiating neuroinflammation by microglia and astrocytes. Recently, it has become recognized that HIV infection is associated with increased production of the beta-amyloid peptide (Aβ) which is a characteristic of AD. Moreover, amyloid plaques have also been demonstrated in the brains of patients suffering from HAND. Thus, the question arises whether this production of Aβ indicates that HAND may lead to AD or it is a form of AD or this increase in Aβ production is only a bystander effect. It has also been discovered that APP in HIV and its metabolic product Aβ in AD manifest antiviral innate immune peptide characteristics. This review attempts to bring together studies linking amyloid precursor protein (APP) and Aβ production in HIV infection and their possible impact on the course of HAND and AD. These data indicate that human defense mechanisms in HAND and AD are trying to contain microorganisms by antimicrobial peptides, however by employing different means. Future studies will, no doubt, uncover the relationship between HAND and AD and, hopefully, reveal novel treatment possibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamas Fulop
- Research Center on Aging, Geriatric Division, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, 3001, 12th Avenue North, Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1H 5N4, Canada.
| | - Jacek M Witkowski
- Department of Pathophysiology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Anis Larbi
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Immunos Building, Biopolis, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Abdelouahed Khalil
- Research Center on Aging, Geriatric Division, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, 3001, 12th Avenue North, Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Georges Herbein
- Department Pathogens & Inflammation-EPILAB, UPRES EA4266, Université of Franche-Comté (UFC), University of Bourgogne France-Comté (UBFC), F-25030, Besançon, France.,Department of Virology, CHRU Besancon, F-25030, Besancon, France
| | - Eric H Frost
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
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24
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Morandi E, Tanasescu R, Tarlinton RE, Constantin-Teodosiu D, Gran B. Do Antiretroviral Drugs Protect From Multiple Sclerosis by Inhibiting Expression of MS-Associated Retrovirus? Front Immunol 2019; 9:3092. [PMID: 30740110 PMCID: PMC6357932 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.03092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The expression of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) has been associated with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The MS-related retrovirus (MSRV/HERV-W) has the potential to activate inflammatory immunity, which could promote both susceptibility and progression toward MS. A connection between HERVs and MS is also supported by the observation that people infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may have a lower risk of developing MS than the HIV non-infected, healthy population. This may be due to suppression of HERV expression by antiretroviral therapies (ART) used to treat HIV infection. In this pilot study, we compared RNA expression of the envelope gene of MSRV/HERV-W, as well as Toll-like receptors (TLR) 2 and 4, in a small cohort of HIV+ patients with MS patients and healthy controls (HC). An increased expression of MSRV/HERV-Wenv and TLR2 RNA was detected in blood of MS patients compared with HIV patients and HC, while TLR4 was increased in both MS and HIV patients. There was, however, no difference in MSRV/HERV-Wenv, TLR2 and TLR4 expression between ART-treated and -untreated HIV patients. The viral protein Env was expressed mainly by B cells and monocytes, but not by T cells and EBV infection could induce the expression of MSRV/HERV-Wenv in Lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). LCLs were therefore used as an in vitro system to test the efficacy of ART in inhibiting the expression of MSRV/HERV-Wenv. Efavirenz (a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor) alone or different combined drugs could reduce MSRV/HERV-Wenv expression in vitro. Further, experiments are needed to clarify the potential role of ART in protection from MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Morandi
- Clinical Neurology Research Group, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Nottingham School of Medicine, Nottingham, United Kingdom.,Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, UPS, INSERM, CNRS Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Radu Tanasescu
- Clinical Neurology Research Group, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Nottingham School of Medicine, Nottingham, United Kingdom.,Department of Neurology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, United Kingdom.,Division of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, Colentina Hospital, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Rachael E Tarlinton
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | | | - Bruno Gran
- Clinical Neurology Research Group, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Nottingham School of Medicine, Nottingham, United Kingdom.,Department of Neurology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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Maze EA, Ham C, Kelly J, Ussher L, Almond N, Towers GJ, Berry N, Belshaw R. Variable Baseline Papio cynocephalus Endogenous Retrovirus (PcEV) Expression Is Upregulated in Acutely SIV-Infected Macaques and Correlated to STAT1 Expression in the Spleen. Front Immunol 2019; 10:901. [PMID: 31156613 PMCID: PMC6529565 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Retroviral replication leaves a DNA copy in the host cell chromosome, which over millions of years of infection of germline cells has led to 5% of the human genome sequence being comprised of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), distributed throughout an estimated 100,000 loci. Over time these loci have accrued mutations such as premature stop codons that prevent continued replication. However, many loci remain both transcriptionally and translationally active and ERVs have been implicated in interacting with the host immune system. Using archived plasma and tissue samples from past macaque studies, experimentally infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), the expression of one macaque ERV in response to acute viral infection was explored together with a measure of the innate immune response. Specifically, RNA levels were determined for (a) Papio cynocephalus Endogenous Retrovirus (PcEV), an ERV (b) STAT1, a key gene in the interferon signaling pathway, and (c) SIV, an exogenous pathogen. Bioinformatic analysis of DNA sequences of the PcEV loci within the macaque reference genome revealed the presence of open reading frames (ORFs) consistent with potential protein expression but not ERV replication. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of DNase-treated RNA extracts from plasma derived from acute SIV-infection detected PcEV RNA at low levels in 7 of 22 macaques. PcEV RNA levels were significantly elevated in PBMC and spleen samples recovered during acute SIV infection, but not in the thymus and lymph nodes. A strong positive correlation was identified between PcEV and STAT1 RNA levels in spleen samples recovered from SIV-positive macaques. One possibility is that SIV infection induces PcEV expression in infected lymphoid tissue that contributes to induction of an antiviral response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Atangana Maze
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom.,Division of Infectious Disease Diagnostics, National Institute of Standards and Control (NIBSC), Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Claire Ham
- Division of Infectious Disease Diagnostics, National Institute of Standards and Control (NIBSC), Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Jack Kelly
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Lindsay Ussher
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Neil Almond
- Division of Infectious Disease Diagnostics, National Institute of Standards and Control (NIBSC), Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Greg J Towers
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Neil Berry
- Division of Infectious Disease Diagnostics, National Institute of Standards and Control (NIBSC), Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Belshaw
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
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Disruption by SaCas9 Endonuclease of HERV-K env, a Retroviral Gene with Oncogenic and Neuropathogenic Potential, Inhibits Molecules Involved in Cancer and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Viruses 2018; 10:v10080412. [PMID: 30087231 PMCID: PMC6115762 DOI: 10.3390/v10080412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2018] [Revised: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The human endogenous retrovirus (HERV)-K, human mouse mammary tumor virus like-2 (HML-2) subgroup of HERVs is activated in several tumors and has been related to prostate cancer progression and motor neuron diseases. The cellular splicing factor 2/alternative splicing factor (SF2/ASF) is a positive regulator of gene expression, coded by a potent proto-oncogene, amplified, and abnormally expressed in tumors. TAR DNA-binding protein-43 (TDP-43) is a DNA/RNA-binding protein, negative regulator of alternative splicing, known for causing neurodegeneration, and with complex roles in oncogenesis. We used the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 technology, with the Cas9 system from Staphylococcus aureus (SaCas9), to disrupt the HERV-K(HML-2)env gene, and evaluated the effects on cultured cells. The tool was tested on human prostate cancer LNCaP cells, whose HERV-Kenv transcription profile is known. It caused HERV-K(HML-2)env disruption (the first reported of a HERV gene), as evaluated by DNA sequencing, and inhibition of env transcripts and proteins. The HERV-K(HML-2)env disruption was found to interfere with important regulators of cell expression and proliferation, involved in manaling, RNA-binding, and alternative splicing, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), SF2/ASF, and TDP-43. These novel findings suggest that HERV-K is not an innocent bystander, they reinforce its links to oncogenesis and motor neuron diseases, and they open potential innovative therapeutic options.
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Link RW, Nonnemacher MR, Wigdahl B, Dampier W. Prediction of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Subtype-Specific Off-Target Effects Arising from CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing Therapy. CRISPR J 2018; 1:294-302. [PMID: 31021222 DOI: 10.1089/crispr.2018.0020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) disease is characterized by the retention of provirus within latently infected cells. Anti-HIV-1 CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing is an attractive strategy to excise or inactivate the HIV-1 genome. Recent strategies have focused on designing gRNAs that target the long terminal repeat (LTR) because 5' and 3' LTR symmetry can facilitate proviral excision. However, the promiscuity of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system necessitates the investigation of potential off-target effects. Here, potential gRNAs designed from HIV-1 phylogenetic subtypes using the CRISPRseek tool were investigated. Across the LTR, it was found that certain regions show higher human homology than others. When using recommended cutoffs, 96.40% of gRNAs were predicted to have no high probability off-target effects. Given this observation, while high-probability off-target effects are a potential danger, they can be avoided with proper gRNA design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert W Link
- 1 School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Michael R Nonnemacher
- 2 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,3 Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,4 Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,5 Center for Genomic Sciences, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Brian Wigdahl
- 2 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,3 Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,4 Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,5 Center for Genomic Sciences, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Will Dampier
- 1 School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,2 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,3 Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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28
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Küry P, Nath A, Créange A, Dolei A, Marche P, Gold J, Giovannoni G, Hartung HP, Perron H. Human Endogenous Retroviruses in Neurological Diseases. Trends Mol Med 2018; 24:379-394. [PMID: 29551251 PMCID: PMC7185488 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2018.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2017] [Revised: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Küry
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Avindra Nath
- Section of infections of the Nervous System, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Alain Créange
- Service de Neurologie, Groupe Hospitalier Henri Mondor, Assistance Publique Hopitaux de Paris (APHP), Université Paris Est, Créteil, France
| | - Antonina Dolei
- Department of Virology, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Patrice Marche
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), University of Grenoble-Alpes, La Tronche, France; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Unité 1209, La Tronche, France
| | - Julian Gold
- Centre for Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University, London, UK; The Albion Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Gavin Giovannoni
- Centre for Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University, London, UK
| | - Hans-Peter Hartung
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Hervé Perron
- Geneuro, Plan les Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland; University of Lyon, Lyon, France
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29
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Abstract
Two human endogenous retroviruses of the HERV-W family are proposed as multiple sclerosis (MS) co-factors: MS-associated retrovirus (MSRV) and ERVWE1, whose env proteins showed several potentially neuropathogenic features, in vitro and in animal models. Phase II clinical trials against HERV-Wenv are ongoing. HERV-W/MSRV was repeatedly found in MS patients, in striking parallel with MS stages, active/remission phases, and therapy outcome. The HERV-Wenv protein is highly expressed in active MS plaques. Early MSRV presence in spinal fluids predicted worst MS progression 10 years in advance. Effective anti-MS therapies strongly reduced MSRV/Syncytin-1/HERV-W expression. The Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) activates HERV-W/MSRV in vitro and in vivo, in patients with infectious mononucleosis and controls with high anti-EBNA1-IgG titers. Thus, the two main EBV/MS links (infectious mononucleosis and high anti-EBNA1-IgG titers) are paralleled by activation of HERV-W/MSRV. It is hypothesized that EBV may act as initial trigger of future MS, years later, by activating MSRV, which would act as direct neuropathogenic effector, before and during MS.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Following the establishment of a number of successful immunomodulatory treatments for multiple sclerosis, current research focuses on the repair of existing damage. RECENT FINDINGS Promotion of regeneration is particularly important for demyelinated areas with degenerated or functionally impaired axons of the central nervous system's white and gray matter. As the protection and generation of new oligodendrocytes is a key to the re-establishment of functional connections, adult oligodendrogenesis and myelin reconstitution processes are of primary interest. Moreover, understanding, supporting and promoting endogenous repair activities such as mediated by resident oligodendroglial precursor or adult neural stem cells are currently thought to be a promising approach toward the development of novel regenerative therapies. SUMMARY This review summarizes recent developments and findings related to pharmacological myelin repair as well as to the modulation/application of stem cells with the aim to restore defective myelin sheaths.
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31
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Mentis AFA, Dardiotis E, Grigoriadis N, Petinaki E, Hadjigeorgiou GM. Viruses and endogenous retroviruses in multiple sclerosis: From correlation to causation. Acta Neurol Scand 2017; 136:606-616. [PMID: 28542724 PMCID: PMC7159535 DOI: 10.1111/ane.12775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis is an immune-mediated disease with an environmental component. According to a long-standing but unproven hypothesis dating to initial descriptions of multiple sclerosis (MS) at the end of the 19th century, viruses are either directly or indirectly implicated in MS pathogenesis. Whether viruses in MS are principally causal or simply contributory remains to be proven, but many viruses or viral elements-predominantly Epstein-Barr virus, human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) and human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) but also less common viruses such as Saffold and measles viruses-are associated with MS. Here, we present an up-to-date and comprehensive review of the main candidate viruses implicated in MS pathogenesis and summarize how these viruses might cause or lead to the hallmark demyelinating and inflammatory lesions of MS. We review data from epidemiological, animal and in vitro studies and in doing so offer a transdisciplinary approach to the topic. We argue that it is crucially important not to interpret "absence of evidence" as "evidence of absence" and that future studies need to focus on distinguishing correlative from causative associations. Progress in the MS-virus field is expected to arise from an increasing body of knowledge on the interplay between viruses and HERVs in MS. Such interactions suggest common HERV-mediated pathways downstream of viral infection that cause both neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. We also comment on the limitations of existing studies and provide future research directions for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- A.-F. A. Mentis
- Department of Microbiology; University Hospital of Larissa; University of Thessaly; Larissa Greece
- The Johns Hopkins University, AAP; Baltimore MD USA
| | - E. Dardiotis
- Department of Neurology; University Hospital of Larissa; University of Thessaly; Larissa Greece
| | - N. Grigoriadis
- Laboratory of Experimental Neurology and Neuroimmunology; B’ Department of Neurology; AHEPA University Hospital; Aristotle University of Thessaloniki; Thessaloniki Greece
| | - E. Petinaki
- Department of Microbiology; University Hospital of Larissa; University of Thessaly; Larissa Greece
| | - G. M. Hadjigeorgiou
- Department of Neurology; University Hospital of Larissa; University of Thessaly; Larissa Greece
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32
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Grandi N, Tramontano E. Type W Human Endogenous Retrovirus (HERV-W) Integrations and Their Mobilization by L1 Machinery: Contribution to the Human Transcriptome and Impact on the Host Physiopathology. Viruses 2017; 9:v9070162. [PMID: 28653997 PMCID: PMC5537654 DOI: 10.3390/v9070162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Revised: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs) are ancient infection relics constituting ~8% of our DNA. While HERVs’ genomic characterization is still ongoing, impressive amounts of data have been obtained regarding their general expression across tissues. Among HERVs, one of the most studied is the W group, which is the sole HERV group specifically mobilized by the long interspersed element-1 (LINE-1) machinery, providing a source of novel insertions by retrotransposition of HERV-W processed pseudogenes, and comprising a member encoding a functional envelope protein coopted for human placentation. The HERV-W group has been intensively investigated for its putative role in several diseases, such as cancer, inflammation, and autoimmunity. Despite major interest in the link between HERV-W expression and human pathogenesis, no conclusive correlation has been demonstrated so far. In general, (i) the absence of a proper identification of the specific HERV-W sequences expressed in a given condition; and (ii) the lack of studies attempting to connect the various observations in the same experimental conditions are the major problems preventing the definitive assessment of the HERV-W impact on human physiopathology. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the HERV-W group presence within the human genome and its expression in physiological tissues as well as in the main pathological contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Grandi
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato SS554, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Enzo Tramontano
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato SS554, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
- Istituto di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
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33
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Liu C, Liu L, Wang X, Liu Y, Wang M, Zhu F. HBV X Protein induces overexpression of HERV-W env through NF-κB in HepG2 cells. Virus Genes 2017. [PMID: 28639221 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-017-1479-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Human endogenous retrovirus W family (HERV-W) envelope (env) at chromosome 7 is highly expressed in the placenta and possesses fusogenic activity in trophoblast development. HERV-W env has been found to be overexpressed in some cancers and immune diseases. Viral transactivators can induce the overexpression of HERV-W env in human cell lines. Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) is believed to be a multifunctional oncogenic protein. Here, we reported that HBx could increase the promoter activity of HERV-W env and upregulate the mRNA levels of non-spliced and spliced HERV-W env and also its protein in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. Interestingly, we found that the inhibition of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) using shRNA targeting NF-κB/p65 or PDTC (an inhibitor of NF-κB) could attenuate the upregulation of HERV-W env induced by HBx. These suggested that HBx might upregulate the expression of HERV-W env through NF-κB in HepG2 cells. This study might provide a new insight in HBV-associated liver diseases including HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Liu
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, People's Republic of China
| | - Lijuan Liu
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiuling Wang
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, People's Republic of China
| | - Youyi Liu
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, People's Republic of China
| | - Miao Wang
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, People's Republic of China
| | - Fan Zhu
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, People's Republic of China. .,Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
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34
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Buzdin AA, Prassolov V, Garazha AV. Friends-Enemies: Endogenous Retroviruses Are Major Transcriptional Regulators of Human DNA. Front Chem 2017. [PMID: 28642863 PMCID: PMC5462908 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2017.00035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Endogenous retroviruses are mobile genetic elements hardly distinguishable from infectious, or “exogenous,” retroviruses at the time of insertion in the host DNA. Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are not rare. They gave rise to multiple families of closely related mobile elements that occupy ~8% of the human genome. Together, they shape genomic regulatory landscape by providing at least ~320,000 human transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) located on ~110,000 individual HERV elements. The HERVs host as many as 155,000 mapped DNaseI hypersensitivity sites, which denote loci active in the regulation of gene expression or chromatin structure. The contemporary view of the HERVs evolutionary dynamics suggests that at the early stages after insertion, the HERV is treated by the host cells as a foreign genetic element, and is likely to be suppressed by the targeted methylation and mutations. However, at the later stages, when significant number of mutations has been already accumulated and when the retroviral genes are broken, the regulatory potential of a HERV may be released and recruited to modify the genomic balance of transcription factor binding sites. This process goes together with further accumulation and selection of mutations, which reshape the regulatory landscape of the human DNA. However, developmental reprogramming, stress or pathological conditions like cancer, inflammation and infectious diseases, can remove the blocks limiting expression and HERV-mediated host gene regulation. This, in turn, can dramatically alter the gene expression equilibrium and shift it to a newer state, thus further amplifying instability and exacerbating the stressful situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton A Buzdin
- Department of Cell Biology, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of SciencesMoscow, Russia.,Centre for Convergence of Nano-, Bio-, Information and Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute,"Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir Prassolov
- Department of Cell Biology, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of SciencesMoscow, Russia
| | - Andrew V Garazha
- Group for Genomic Regulation of Cell Signaling Systems, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic ChemistryMoscow, Russia.,Department of Biomedicine, Moscow Institute of Physics and TechnologyMoscow, Russia
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35
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PKC-δ isoform plays a crucial role in Tat-TLR4 signalling pathway to activate NF-κB and CXCL8 production. Sci Rep 2017; 7:2384. [PMID: 28539656 PMCID: PMC5443767 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-02468-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 Tat protein induces the production of CXCL8 chemokine in a TLR4/MD2 and PKC dependent manner. The objective of this study was to understand whether these two pathways were distinct or constituted a single common pathway, and to determine the nature of the PKC isoforms involved and their interrelation with the activation of NF-κB and CXCL8 gene product expression. Here, we show that Tat-induced CXCL8 production is essentially dependent on the activation of PKC delta isoform, as shown a) by the capacity of PKC delta dominant negative (DN), and Rottlerin, a selective PKC delta pharmacological inhibitor, to inhibit Tat-induced CXCL8 production and b) by the ability of the constitutively active (CAT) isoform of PKC delta to induce CXCL8 production in a HEK cell line in the absence of Tat stimulation. The finding that comparable amounts of CXCL8 were produced following stimulation with either Tat protein, PKC-delta CAT transfection, or both, argue for the implication of one common pathway where PKC delta is activated downstream of TLR4 recruitment and leads to the activation of NF-κB. Altogether, our results underline the crucial role of PKC delta isoform in activating gene expression of CXCL8, a cytokine largely implicated in the physiopathology of HIV-1 infection.
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36
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Uleri E, Piu C, Caocci M, Ibba G, Serra C, Dolei A. The EGF epidermal growth factor counteracts Tat modulation of human endogenous retroviruses of the W family in astrocytes. J Neurovirol 2017; 23:587-592. [DOI: 10.1007/s13365-017-0531-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Revised: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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37
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Nali LHS, Oliveira ACS, Alves DO, Caleiro GS, Nunes CF, Gerhardt D, Succi RCM, Romano CM, Machado DM. Expression of human endogenous retrovirus K and W in babies. Arch Virol 2016; 162:857-861. [PMID: 27885560 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-016-3167-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 11/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Here we determined the relative expression of HERV-K and W proviruses in HIV infected and non-infected mothers as well as their respective babies up to 1 year-old. HIV-infected mothers, their babies and uninfected control groups presented expression of both HERV-K and HERV-W with relatively high frequency. While the level of HERV-K expression was similar among groups, the level of HERV-W expression in HIV-infected mothers was four-fold higher than the uninfected mothers from the control group (p < 0.01). HERV-W was down regulated in HIV-exposed babies in comparison to non-exposed babies. To our knowledge, this is the first report of HERV transcriptional activity in babies from 0-1 year-old.
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Affiliation(s)
- L H S Nali
- Laboratório de Virologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, LIM-52 (LIMHC) Universidade de São Paulo, Rua Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 470, São Paulo, 05403-000, Brazil
| | - A C S Oliveira
- Laboratório de Virologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, LIM-52 (LIMHC) Universidade de São Paulo, Rua Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 470, São Paulo, 05403-000, Brazil
| | - D O Alves
- Laboratório de Virologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, LIM-52 (LIMHC) Universidade de São Paulo, Rua Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 470, São Paulo, 05403-000, Brazil
| | - G S Caleiro
- Laboratório de Virologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, LIM-52 (LIMHC) Universidade de São Paulo, Rua Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 470, São Paulo, 05403-000, Brazil
| | - C F Nunes
- Laboratório de Virologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, LIM-52 (LIMHC) Universidade de São Paulo, Rua Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 470, São Paulo, 05403-000, Brazil
| | - D Gerhardt
- Laboratório de Virologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, LIM-52 (LIMHC) Universidade de São Paulo, Rua Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 470, São Paulo, 05403-000, Brazil.,Departamento de Pediatria, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Sena Madureira 1500, São Paulo, 04021-001, Brazil
| | - R C M Succi
- Departamento de Pediatria, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Sena Madureira 1500, São Paulo, 04021-001, Brazil
| | - Camila M Romano
- Laboratório de Virologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, LIM-52 (LIMHC) Universidade de São Paulo, Rua Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 470, São Paulo, 05403-000, Brazil.
| | - D M Machado
- Laboratório de Virologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, LIM-52 (LIMHC) Universidade de São Paulo, Rua Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 470, São Paulo, 05403-000, Brazil.,Departamento de Pediatria, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Sena Madureira 1500, São Paulo, 04021-001, Brazil
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38
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Ndhlovu LC, D'Antoni ML, Ananworanich J, Byron MM, Chalermchai T, Sithinamsuwan P, Tipsuk S, Ho E, Slike BM, Schuetz A, Zhang G, Agsalda-Garcia M, Shiramizu B, Shikuma CM, Valcour V. Loss of CCR2 expressing non-classical monocytes are associated with cognitive impairment in antiretroviral therapy-naïve HIV-infected Thais. J Neuroimmunol 2015; 288:25-33. [PMID: 26531691 PMCID: PMC4633708 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2015.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2015] [Revised: 08/18/2015] [Accepted: 08/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
HIV DNA in monocytes has been linked to HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), however, characterization of monocyte subsets associated with HAND remains unclear. We completed a prospective study of antiretroviral therapy-naïve, HIV-infected Thais, with varying degrees of cognitive impairment, compared to HIV-uninfected controls. Monocyte subsets' CCR2, CCR5 and CD163 expression were profiled and inflammatory markers in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), measured. Lower numbers of CCR2(+)non-classical monocytes were associated with worse neuropsychological test performance (r=0.43, p=0.024). CCR2(+)non-classical monocyte count inversely correlated with CSF neopterin (r=-0.43, p=0.035) and plasma TNF-α levels (r=-0.40, p=0.041). These data benchmark CCR2(+)non-classical monocytes as an independent index of cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lishomwa C. Ndhlovu
- Hawai’i Center for AIDS
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology & Pharmacology
| | - Michelle L. D'Antoni
- Hawai’i Center for AIDS
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology & Pharmacology
| | - Jintanat Ananworanich
- SEARCH
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Mary Margaret Byron
- Hawai’i Center for AIDS
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology & Pharmacology
| | - Thep Chalermchai
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology & Pharmacology
| | | | - Somporn Tipsuk
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology & Pharmacology
| | | | - Bonnie M. Slike
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Alexandra Schuetz
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Guangxiang Zhang
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology & Pharmacology
- Biostatistics and Data Management Core, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai’i, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Melissa Agsalda-Garcia
- Hawai’i Center for AIDS
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology & Pharmacology
| | - Bruce Shiramizu
- Hawai’i Center for AIDS
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology & Pharmacology
| | | | - Victor Valcour
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Suntsova M, Garazha A, Ivanova A, Kaminsky D, Zhavoronkov A, Buzdin A. Molecular functions of human endogenous retroviruses in health and disease. Cell Mol Life Sci 2015; 72:3653-75. [PMID: 26082181 PMCID: PMC11113533 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-015-1947-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2015] [Revised: 05/29/2015] [Accepted: 06/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) and related genetic elements form 504 distinct families and occupy ~8% of human genome. Recent success of high-throughput experimental technologies facilitated understanding functional impact of HERVs for molecular machinery of human cells. HERVs encode active retroviral proteins, which may exert important physiological functions in the body, but also may be involved in the progression of cancer and numerous human autoimmune, neurological and infectious diseases. The spectrum of related malignancies includes, but not limits to, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, lupus, schizophrenia, multiple cancer types and HIV. In addition, HERVs regulate expression of the neighboring host genes and modify genomic regulatory landscape, e.g., by providing regulatory modules like transcription factor binding sites (TFBS). Indeed, recent bioinformatic profiling identified ~110,000 regulatory active HERV elements, which formed at least ~320,000 human TFBS. These and other peculiarities of HERVs might have played an important role in human evolution and speciation. In this paper, we focus on the current progress in understanding of normal and pathological molecular niches of HERVs, on their implications in human evolution, normal physiology and disease. We also review the available databases dealing with various aspects of HERV genetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Suntsova
- Group for Genomic Regulation of Cell Signaling Systems, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, 117997, Russia.
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, D. Rogachyov Federal Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Moscow, 117198, Russia.
| | - Andrew Garazha
- Group for Genomic Regulation of Cell Signaling Systems, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, 117997, Russia.
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, D. Rogachyov Federal Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Moscow, 117198, Russia.
| | - Alena Ivanova
- Group for Genomic Regulation of Cell Signaling Systems, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, 117997, Russia.
- Pathway Pharmaceuticals, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
| | - Dmitry Kaminsky
- Pathway Pharmaceuticals, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
| | - Alex Zhavoronkov
- Pathway Pharmaceuticals, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
- Department of Translational and Regenerative Medicine, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 9 Institutskiy per., Dolgoprudny, Moscow, 141700, Russia.
| | - Anton Buzdin
- Group for Genomic Regulation of Cell Signaling Systems, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, 117997, Russia.
- Pathway Pharmaceuticals, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
- National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute", Centre for Convergence of Nano-, Bio-, Information and Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, 1, Akademika Kurchatova sq., Moscow, 123182, Russia.
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40
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Ben Haij N, Planès R, Leghmari K, Serrero M, Delobel P, Izopet J, BenMohamed L, Bahraoui E. HIV-1 Tat Protein Induces Production of Proinflammatory Cytokines by Human Dendritic Cells and Monocytes/Macrophages through Engagement of TLR4-MD2-CD14 Complex and Activation of NF-κB Pathway. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0129425. [PMID: 26090662 PMCID: PMC4474861 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2014] [Accepted: 05/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We recently reported that the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) Tat protein induced the expression of programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) on dendritic cells (DCs) through a TLR4 pathway. However, the underlying mechanisms by which HIV-1 Tat protein induces the abnormal hyper-activation of the immune system seen in HIV-1 infected patients remain to be fully elucidated. In the present study, we report that HIV-1 Tat protein induced the production of significant amounts of the pro-inflammatory IL-6 and IL-8 cytokines by DCs and monocytes from both healthy and HIV-1 infected patients. Such production was abrogated in the presence of anti-TLR4 blocking antibodies or soluble recombinant TLR4-MD2 as a decoy receptor, suggesting TLR4 was recruited by Tat protein. Tat-induced murine IL-6 and CXCL1/KC a functional homologue of human IL-8 was abolished in peritoneal macrophages derived from TLR4 KO but not from Wt mice, confirming the involvement of the TLR4 pathway. Furthermore, the recruitment of TLR4-MD2-CD14 complex by Tat protein was demonstrated by the activation of TLR4 downstream pathways including NF-κB and SOCS-1 and by down-modulation of cell surface TLR4 by endocytosis in dynamin and lipid-raft-dependent manners. Collectively, these findings demonstrate, for the first time, that HIV-1 Tat interacts with TLR4-MD2-CD14 complex and activates the NF-κB pathway, leading to overproduction of IL-6 and IL-8 pro-inflammatory cytokines by myeloid cells from both healthy and HIV-1 infected patients. This study reveals a novel mechanism by which HIV-1, via its early expressed Tat protein, hijacks the TLR4 pathway, hence establishing abnormal hyper-activation of the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nawal Ben Haij
- INSERM, U1043, Toulouse, France, CNRS, U5282, Toulouse, France
- Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - Rémi Planès
- INSERM, U1043, Toulouse, France, CNRS, U5282, Toulouse, France
- Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - Kaoutar Leghmari
- INSERM, U1043, Toulouse, France, CNRS, U5282, Toulouse, France
- Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - Manutea Serrero
- INSERM, U1043, Toulouse, France, CNRS, U5282, Toulouse, France
- Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - Pierre Delobel
- INSERM, U1043, Toulouse, France, CNRS, U5282, Toulouse, France
- Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - Jacques Izopet
- INSERM, U1043, Toulouse, France, CNRS, U5282, Toulouse, France
- Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - Lbachir BenMohamed
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, 92697, United States of America
- Institute for Immunology, Irvine, CA, 92697, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, 92697, United States of America
| | - Elmostafa Bahraoui
- INSERM, U1043, Toulouse, France, CNRS, U5282, Toulouse, France
- Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
- * E-mail:
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