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Bustamante Rivera YY, Brütting C, Schmidt C, Volkmer I, Staege MS. Endogenous Retrovirus 3 - History, Physiology, and Pathology. Front Microbiol 2018; 8:2691. [PMID: 29379485 PMCID: PMC5775217 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 12/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Endogenous viral elements (EVE) seem to be present in all eukaryotic genomes. The composition of EVE varies between different species. The endogenous retrovirus 3 (ERV3) is one of these elements that is present only in humans and other Catarrhini. Conservation of ERV3 in most of the investigated Catarrhini and the expression pattern in normal tissues suggest a putative physiological role of ERV3. On the other hand, ERV3 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of auto-immunity and cancer. In the present review we summarize knowledge about this interesting EVE. We propose the model that expression of ERV3 (and probably other EVE loci) under pathological conditions might be part of a metazoan SOS response.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christine Brütting
- Department of Paediatrics I, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Caroline Schmidt
- Department of Paediatrics I, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Ines Volkmer
- Department of Paediatrics I, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Martin S Staege
- Department of Paediatrics I, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
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Computational and Statistical Analyses of Insertional Polymorphic Endogenous Retroviruses in a Non-Model Organism. COMPUTATION 2014. [DOI: 10.3390/computation2040221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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Nelson PN, Roden D, Nevill A, Freimanis GL, Trela M, Ejtehadi HD, Bowman S, Axford J, Veitch AM, Tugnet N, Rylance PB. Rheumatoid Arthritis is Associated with IgG Antibodies to Human Endogenous Retrovirus Gag Matrix: A Potential Pathogenic Mechanism of Disease? J Rheumatol 2014; 41:1952-60. [DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.130502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Objective.Human endogenous retrovirus (HERV)-K10 has been implicated in the etiology and pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A secondary immune response to this virus might suggest an antigen-driven response in patients. The Gag region of HERV-K10 could provide a key epitope important for immunological reactivity. We investigated the presence of IgG antibodies to this region and assessed its significance in RA.Methods.We determined an antigenic peptide on the matrix segment of HERV-K10 and developed an ELISA system to detect IgG antibodies in patients with RA and controls. The presence of antibodies to the matrix peptide (denoted as MAG1: RIGKELKQAGRKGNI) was correlated with patient details.Results.On screening patients’ serum, we found a significantly higher mean IgG antibody response to MAG1 in 30 patients with RA as compared to 23 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (p = 0.003), 29 patients with osteoarthritis (p = 0.001), and 43 healthy individuals (p = 0.002). Reactivity was not observed to a control peptide possessing a nonhomologous amino acid sequence. On evaluating clinical details with serological activity, no correlation with disease duration (p = 0.128), sex (p = 0.768), or rheumatoid factor status (p = 0.576) was found.Conclusion.A significantly elevated IgG antibody response to an HERV-K10 Gag matrix peptide was observed in patients with RA, suggesting that the exposure of HERV-K10 may cause a secondary, antigenic driven immune response in RA.
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Rhyu DW, Kang YJ, Ock MS, Eo JW, Choi YH, Kim WJ, Leem SH, Yi JM, Kim HS, Cha HJ. Expression of human endogenous retrovirus env genes in the blood of breast cancer patients. Int J Mol Sci 2014; 15:9173-83. [PMID: 24964007 PMCID: PMC4100088 DOI: 10.3390/ijms15069173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2014] [Revised: 05/13/2014] [Accepted: 05/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERV) env proteins have been recently reported to be significantly up-regulated in certain cancers. Specifically, mRNA and protein levels of HERV-K (HML-2) are up-regulated in the blood plasma or serum of breast cancer patients. Here, we collected blood samples of 49 breast cancer patients and analyzed mRNA expressions of various HERVs env genes including HERV-R, HERV-H, HERV-K, and HERV-P by real-time PCR. The expression of env genes were significantly increased in the blood of primary breast cancer patients but were decreased in patients undergoing chemotherapy to a similar level with benign patients. When we compared the group currently undergoing chemotherapy and those patients undergoing chemotherapy simultaneously with radiotherapy, HERVs env genes were reduced more in the chemotherapy only group, suggesting that chemotherapy is more effective in reducing HERV env gene expression than is radiotherapy. Among chemotherapy groups, HERV env gene expression was the lowest in the taxotere- or taxol-treated group, suggesting that taxotere and taxol can reduce HERVs env expression. These data suggest the potential to use HERVs env genes as a diagnosis marker for primary breast cancer, and further studies are needed to identify the mechanism and physiological significance of the reduction of HERV env gene expression during chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Won Rhyu
- Department of Surgery, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan 602-072, Korea.
| | - Yun-Jeong Kang
- Department of Parasitology and Genetics, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan 602-072, Korea.
| | - Mee-Sun Ock
- Department of Parasitology and Genetics, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan 602-072, Korea.
| | - Jung-Woo Eo
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Korea.
| | - Yung-Hyun Choi
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Oriental Medicine, Dongeui University, Busan 614-052, Korea.
| | - Wun-Jae Kim
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763, Korea.
| | - Sun-Hee Leem
- Department of Biological Science, Dong-A University, Busan 604-714, Korea.
| | - Joo-Mi Yi
- Dongnam Institute of Radiological & Medicine Sciences, Busan 619-953, Korea.
| | - Heui-Soo Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Korea.
| | - Hee-Jae Cha
- Department of Parasitology and Genetics, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan 602-072, Korea.
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Kang YJ, Jo JO, Ock MS, Chang HK, Baek KW, Lee JR, Choi YH, Kim WJ, Leem SH, Kim HS, Cha HJ. Human ERV3-1 env protein expression in various human tissues and tumours. J Clin Pathol 2013; 67:86-90. [PMID: 24043713 DOI: 10.1136/jclinpath-2013-201841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Jeong Kang
- Departments of Parasitology and Genetics, Kosin University College of Medicine, , Busan, Republic of Korea
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Anti-inflammatory and vasoprotective activity of a retroviral-derived peptide, homologous to human endogenous retroviruses: endothelial cell effects. PLoS One 2012; 7:e52693. [PMID: 23285152 PMCID: PMC3527569 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0052693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2012] [Accepted: 11/21/2012] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Malignant and inflammatory tissues sometimes express endogenous retroviruses or their proteins. A highly-conserved sequence from retroviral transmembrane (TM) proteins, termed the “immunosuppressive domain (ID)”, is associated with inhibition of immune and inflammatory functions. An octadecapeptide (MN10021) from the ID of retroviral TM protein p15E inhibits in vitro release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increases synthesis of anti-inflammatory IL-10. We sought to determine if MN10021 has significant in vivo effects. MN10021, prepared by solid-phase synthesis, was dimerized through a naturally-occurring, carboxy-terminal cysteine. In vivo anti-inflammatory activity was determined using a murine model of sodium periodate (NaIO4)-induced peritonitis. In vivo vasoprotective effects were determined using: (1) a carrageenan-induced model of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in mice; (2) a reverse passive Arthus model in guinea pigs; and (3) vasoregulatory effects in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). In vitro studies included: (1) binding/uptake of MN10021 using human monocytes, cultured fibroblasts, and vascular endothelial cells (VEC); (2) gene expression by RT-PCR of MN10021-treated VEC; and (3) apoptosis of MN10021-treated VEC exposed to staurosporine or TNF-α. One-tenth nmol MN10021 inhibits 50 percent of the inflammatory response in the mouse peritonitis model. Furthermore, 73 nmol MN10021 completely protects mice in a lethal model of carrageenan-induced DIC and inhibits vascular leak in both the mouse DIC model and a guinea pig reverse passive Arthus reaction. MN10021 binds to and is taken up in a specific manner by both human monocytes and VEC but not by cultured human fibroblasts. Surprisingly, orally-administered MN10021 lowers blood pressure in SHR rats by 10–15% within 1 h suggesting a direct or indirect effect on the vascular endothelium. MN10021 and derived octapeptides induce iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase) mRNA in VEC and nitrate in VEC cell culture supernatants and protect VEC from induced apoptosis or necrosis. However, pretreatment of VEC with nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), while inhibiting the release of nitrate, does not block the anti-apoptotic effect of MN10021 and derived octapeptides suggesting that their potent vasoprotective and anti-inflammatory activity is not nitric oxide dependent.
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Lee JR, Ahn K, Kim YJ, Jung YD, Kim HS. Radiation-induced human endogenous retrovirus (HERV)-R env gene expression by epigenetic control. Radiat Res 2012; 178:379-84. [PMID: 23004920 DOI: 10.1667/rr2888.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
It is commonly accepted that ionizing radiation induces genomic instability by changes in genomic structure, epigenetic regulation and gene expression. Human endogenous retroviruses (HERV)-R also are often differentially expressed between normal and disease tissues under unstable genomic conditions and are implicated in the pathogenesis of several human diseases. To understand the influence of ionizing radiation on HERV-R expression, we performed quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses using γ-irradiated normal human cells. Compared to nonirradiated cells, HERV-R expression was up-regulated in γ-irradiated cells. The regulatory mechanism of HERV-R expression in irradiated cells was investigated by methylation analyses of HERV-R 5'LTRs and treatment with garcinol. These data indicated that the up-regulated transcription of HERV-R may be regulated by radiation-induced epigenetic changes induced by histone modification, and thus could be of great importance for understanding the relationship between radiation-induced biological effects and transposable elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ja-Rang Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Republic of Korea
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NELSON PAUL, DAVARI-EJTEHADI HORA, NEVILL ALAN, BOWMAN SIMON. Endogenous Retrovirus Erv-3 Is Not Implicated in Rheumatoid Arthritis But May Provide a Biomarker for Osteoarthritis: Table 1. J Rheumatol 2010; 37:473. [DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.090735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Sasaki N, Ogawa Y, Iinuma C, Tomaru U, Katsumata K, Otsuka N, Kasahara M, Yoshiki T, Ishizu A. Human endogenous retrovirus-R Env glycoprotein as possible autoantigen in autoimmune disease. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2009; 25:889-96. [PMID: 19689191 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2009.0048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
It has long been discussed whether endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Among various human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), we have focused on HERV-R. To investigate the biological roles of HERV-R, we earlier established transgenic rats carrying the full sequence of the viral genome. In these HERV-R rats, however, no disease occurred. Another trigger that induces autoimmunity may be essential for the recognition of HERV-R products by the immune system. Thus, in this study, we mated HERV-R rats with env-pX rats (transgenic rats carrying the env-pX gene of human T cell leukemia virus type I) that develop autoimmune diseases, and generated double transgenic (DTG) rats. In DTG rats, autoimmune diseases occurred similarly in env-pX rats. Interestingly, deposition of rat IgM but not IgG was observed on the glomerular endothelial cells. Such IgM deposition was never seen in the parental HERV-R or env-pX rats. We considered that in situ formation of immune complexes consisted of the HERV-R env glycoprotein and anti-HERV-R env IgM antibodies (Abs) in DTG rats, according to the following evidence: (1) No dense deposit, representing deposition of circulating immune complexes, was seen on glomerular endothelial cells. (2) IgM Abs reactive with HERV-R env glycoprotein were generated in the serum. (3) HERV-R env glycoprotein was expressed in the kidney, specifically on glomerular endothelial cells. (4) IgM deposition was partly colocalized with the HERV-R env glycoprotein on the glomeruli. These findings strongly suggest that the HERV-R env glycoprotein is recognized as an autoantigen in the host with autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi Sasaki
- Department of Pathology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Yayoi Ogawa
- Department of Pathology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Chihiro Iinuma
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Utano Tomaru
- Department of Pathology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Katsumata
- Department of Pathology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Otsuka
- Department of Pathology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Masanori Kasahara
- Department of Pathology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Takashi Yoshiki
- Department of Pathology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Akihiro Ishizu
- Department of Pathology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
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Transcription of HERV-E and HERV-E-related sequences in malignant and non-malignant human haematopoietic cells. Virology 2008; 382:37-45. [PMID: 18929381 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2008.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2008] [Revised: 07/10/2008] [Accepted: 09/03/2008] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Infection of a human T-cell leukaemia cell line (HSB-2) with HHV-6 led to the induction of exosome-like-particles attached to newly formed HHV-6 enveloped particles and to amplification of a 1642 bp molecule consisting of a partial human endogenous retrovirus (HERV)-E polymerase gene and repetitive sequences. We initiated an analysis of transcriptional patterns of predicted genes from HERV-E sequences in normal and malignant haematopoietic cells. Transcription patterns of regions corresponding to gag, pol and env genes at different chromosomal loci varied among cell types tested. Several specific transcripts were only observed in malignant haematopoietic cells and transcriptional activity varied among different malignant cell types. A transcript of 7.1 kb spanning the complete gag, pol and env gene region, originating from chromosome 8p23, was identified in normal peripheral blood cells and cells of the chronic myeloid leukaemia cell line K562. Our study describes new active HERV-E sequences and new loci throughout the human genome.
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Otsuka N, Miyatake Y, Ishizu A, Tanaka S, Yamamoto Y, Ikeda H, Yoshiki T. Short communication: expression of human endogenous retrovirus-R gene links to differentiation of squamous cells. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2006; 22:1148-51. [PMID: 17147502 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2006.22.1148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To investigate the biological roles of human endogenous retrovirus-R (HERV-R) in vivo, we established transgenic rats carrying the full sequence of the viral genome with control of its own long terminal repeat promoter. The Env protein was expressed on the surface of the epidermis of fetal HERV-R transgenic rats on day 10 of gestation. The epidermal Env expression disappeared by day 18 of gestation. After day 18 of gestation, the Env protein was detected in the prickle layer of the esophageal epithelium of transgenic rats. Interestingly, it was not detected in the basal layer of the epithelium, and the expression in the granular layer was weaker than in the prickle layer. These findings suggest that expression of HERV-R is linked not only to the development but also to the differentiation of squamous cells. Next, we examined alterations in the expression of the HERV-R env gene in cultured human squamous cells after exposure to all-trans retinoic acids (ATRA). The env expression was increased by ATRA in a dose-dependent manner, while the expression of transglutaminase 1 (TGM1), a terminal marker for squamous differentiation, was decreased. TGM1 is expressed in the granular layer of the squamous epithelium, and ATRA suppresses the differentiation of cultured squamous cells. Thus, these in vitro data also suggest that HERV-R expression is regulated by a mechanism closely related to the differentiation of squamous cells. This study is the first to demonstrate the association of HERV-R expression and differentiation of squamous cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Otsuka
- Department of Pathology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
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Cunningham DA, Dos Santos Cruz GJ, Fernández-Suárez XM, Whittam AJ, Herring C, Copeman L, Richards A, Langford GA. ACTIVATION OF PRIMARY PORCINE ENDOTHELIAL CELLS INDUCES RELEASE OF PORCINE ENDOGENOUS RETROVIRUSES. Transplantation 2004; 77:1071-9. [PMID: 15087774 DOI: 10.1097/01.tp.0000114966.20491.50] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endothelial cells form the interface between the porcine graft and the recipient and frequently become activated after xenotransplantation. To evaluate the safety of xenotransplantation further, we assessed the effect of cellular activation on the expression and release of porcine endogenous retroviruses from primary endothelial cells isolated from transgenic and nontransgenic pigs. METHODS Primary porcine endothelial cells, cultured from pigs transgenic for human decay accelerating factor, were treated with human tumor necrosis factor-alpha, porcine interferon-gamma, or lipopolysaccharide. The release of porcine endogenous retroviruses into the supernatant was monitored at 24-hr intervals (up to 72 hr) by polymerase chain reaction-based reverse transcriptase (PBRT) assay. Activated and unactivated endothelial cells were co-cultured with human cells to investigate the capacity of any virus released from the porcine cells to infect human cells. RESULTS Virus was not detected in supernatants from quiescent cells by PBRT analysis. The number of viral particles released from endothelial cells was 10 to 5 x 10 viral particles/mL after cellular activation with tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, or lipopolysaccharide, as shown by PBRT analysis. In contrast, in vitro infection of human cells was observed with unactivated endothelial cells only and was not observed in co-cultures with the activated porcine cells. CONCLUSIONS Cytokine treatment of primary porcine endothelial cells results in an increase in the release of virus into the supernatant, but the observed increase in viral titer was not mirrored by an increase in infectivity toward human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deirdre A Cunningham
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom.
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Tanaka S, Ikeda H, Otsuka N, Yamamoto Y, Sugaya T, Yoshiki T. Tissue specific high level expression of a full length human endogenous retrovirus genome transgene, HERV-R, under control of its own promoter in rats. Transgenic Res 2003; 12:319-28. [PMID: 12779120 DOI: 10.1023/a:1023381819572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Human endogenous retrovirus-R (HERV-R) is one of a full length HERV with a long open reading frame in the env region. The env transcripts are expressed in various human tissues. To investigate the biological role of HERV-R in vivo, we established two lines of transgenic rats carrying a full sequence of HERV-R under control of its own long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter. One line with tandem integration of multiple copies of the transgene expressed HERV-R mRNA in various organs with different expression levels and relatively higher in Harderian and submandibular salivary glands. In another line, the transgene was integrated as a single copy in a haploid and the expression was detected only in Harderian and submandibular salivary glands. In the placenta, one of the tissues with high levels of the HERV-R expression in humans, the transcription was evident starting the 12th day after gestation. A rabbit antiserum against synthetic peptides corresponding with the HERV-R env gene sequence led to detection of an 85 kDa product as a glycoprotein in the Harderian glands. While no pathological significance was observed in either line, the transgenic rat may prove to be a suitable model for analyzing the role of HERV-R function in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Tanaka
- Department of Pathology/Pathophysiology, Division of Pathophysiological Science, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita-15, Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan
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Katsumata K, Ikeda H, Sato M, Ishizu A, Kawarada Y, Kato H, Wakisaka A, Koike T, Yoshiki T. Cytokine regulation of env gene expression of human endogenous retrovirus-R in human vascular endothelial cells. Clin Immunol 1999; 93:75-80. [PMID: 10497013 DOI: 10.1006/clim.1999.4762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
To determine whether human endogenous retroviruses are implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory vascular diseases of unknown etiology, we examined mRNA expression of a human endogenous retrovirus, HERV-R, which has a long open reading frame in the env region, in cultured human vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells stimulated in the presence of various cytokines. mRNA of HERV-R was always evident in these cells but not in fibroblastic cells. Levels of expression in vascular endothelial cells were significantly regulated by treatment with tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1alpha, and IL-1beta as up-regulators and interferon-gamma as a down-regulator. These observations are interpreted to mean that HERV-R expression may be up- or down-regulated at sites of inflammation in vessels in vivo and hence may play a pathogenetic role in inflammatory vascular diseases in humans, perhaps similar to endogenous retroviruses in mouse models of polyarteritis nodosa in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Katsumata
- School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita-15, Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan
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Abstract
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) have recently been suggested as mediators of normal biological processes such as cellular differentiation and regulation of gene expression. Moreover, a direct role for HERVs in pathogenesis and the development of disease is now better appreciated. Elucidation of the mechanisms regulating HERV biology should provide information about fundamental cellular activities and the pathogenesis of multifactorial diseases such as cancer and autoimmune disease. The importance of understanding the roles of HERVs is underscored by the recently obtained insight that activation of endogenous retroviruses poses potential risks following xenotransplantation and in gene therapy using retroviral vectors. Furthermore, HERV-encoded superantigens have recently been implicated as causes of autoimmune disease. This review discusses the established and possible biological roles of HERVs, and proposes hypotheses concerning their involvement as mediators of fundamental cellular responses. We propose that the evolutionary persistence of endogenous retroviruses in the genomes of eukaryotic cells reflects their indispensability in important normal functions in specialized cellular environments. HERVs can also be potentially hazardous through their involvement in the development of disease. In addition, the creation of new retroviruses can occur through recombination, between different HERVs and between HERVs and exogenous retroviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Larsson
- Department of Genetics and Pathology, University of Uppsala, University Hospital, Sweden
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Hishikawa T, Ogasawara H, Kaneko H, Shirasawa T, Matsuura Y, Sekigawa I, Takasaki Y, Hashimoto H, Hirose S, Handa S, Nagasawa R, Maruyama N. Detection of antibodies to a recombinant gag protein derived from human endogenous retrovirus clone 4-1 in autoimmune diseases. Viral Immunol 1997; 10:137-47. [PMID: 9344336 DOI: 10.1089/vim.1997.10.137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
To investigate whether human endogenous retroviruses (HERV) contribute to autoimmune diseases, we prepared a recombinant p30gag protein derived from clone 4-1 of the HERV family, using a baculovirus-vector system. This p30gag protein (CA41B) was approximately 30 kDa, as expected, and reacted with antibodies for p30gag purified from both murine and feline leukemia virus. This result suggested that the antigenic determinant for p30gag was well conserved in CA41B. Analysis of serum antibodies to p30gag in patients with autoimmune diseases was done by Western blotting. CA41B detected anti-p30gag antibodies in 48.3% of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, 35.0% of Sjögren's syndrome (SS) patients, and 33.3% of mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) patients, whereas no anti-p30gag antibodies were found in healthy subjects. This suggested that HERV p30gag or other retroviral p30gag proteins possessing the same antigenic determinant as CA41B may play a role in these diseases. Although detection of antibodies to HERV p30gag in autoimmune diseases is indirect evidence that HERV proteins are involved, this study showed that patients with autoimmune diseases have antibodies to HERV p30gag using a recombinant HERV protein rather than synthetic peptides based on HERV or retroviral proteins of other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Hishikawa
- Department of Internal Medicine, Juntendo University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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Nakagawa K, Brusic V, McColl G, Harrison LC. Direct evidence for the expression of multiple endogenous retroviruses in the synovial compartment in rheumatoid arthritis. ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM 1997; 40:627-38. [PMID: 9125244 DOI: 10.1002/art.1780400407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Circumstantial evidence links retroviruses (RVs) with human autoimmune diseases. The aim of the present study was to obtain direct evidence of RV gene expression in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS Synovial samples were obtained from patients with RA, patients with osteoarthritis (OA), and normal control subjects. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed using synovial RNA and primers to conserved sequences in the polymerase (pol) genes of known RVs. RESULTS PCR products (n = 857) were cloned and sequenced. Multiple pol transcripts, many with open reading frames, were expressed in every sample. Sequences were aligned and classified into 6 families (F1-F6) that contained 33 groups of known and unknown endogenous RVs (ERVs), each distinguished by a specific, deduced peptide motif. The frequency of sequences in each family was similar between RA, OA, and normal synovial tissue, but differed significantly in RA synovial fluid cells. F1 sequences (undefined, but related to murine and primate type C RVs) were lower in frequency, F2 (ERV-9-related), F4 (HERV-K-related), and F6 (HERV-L-related) sequences were higher in frequency, and F3 (RTVL-H-related) sequences were not detected, in the RA synovial fluid cells compared with the RA synovial tissues. CONCLUSION Multiple ERVs are expressed in normal and diseased synovial compartments, but specific transcripts can be differentially expressed in RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Nakagawa
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Australia
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Rasmussen HB, Clausen J. Possible involvement of endogenous retroviruses in the development of autoimmune disorders, especially multiple sclerosis. ACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA. SUPPLEMENTUM 1997; 169:32-7. [PMID: 9174638 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1997.tb08147.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Endogenous retroviruses are normal elements in vertebrate genomes. Many aspects concerning these genomic elements are still uncertain. In mice some endogenous retroviral sequences seem to be involved in the regulation of immune responses and there is even evidence that a retroviral element is responsible for the development of an autoimmune disease in a mouse strain. Whether endogenous retroviruses also contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases in humans is not known, but it is an interesting possibility. Below we briefly review endogenous retroviruses as potential etiological factors in autoimmunity and we discuss a possible association between MS and endogenous retroviruses on the basis of results from our laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- H B Rasmussen
- Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Roskilde University, Denmark
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19
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Luppi P, Trucco M. Superantigens in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. SPRINGER SEMINARS IN IMMUNOPATHOLOGY 1996; 17:333-62. [PMID: 8966660 DOI: 10.1007/bf01795133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- P Luppi
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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20
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Taruscio D, Mantovani A. Eleven chromosomal integration sites of a human endogenous retrovirus (HERV 4-1) map close to known loci of thirteen hereditary malformation syndromes. TERATOLOGY 1996; 54:108-10. [PMID: 8948547 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-9926(199606)54:2<108::aid-tera7>3.0.co;2-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- D Taruscio
- Laboratories of Ultrastucture, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome-Italy
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21
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Larsson E, Venables PJ, Andersson AC, Fan W, Rigby S, Botling J, Oberg F, Cohen M, Nilsson K. Expression of the endogenous retrovirus ERV3 (HERV-R) during induced monocytic differentiation in the U-937 cell line. Int J Cancer 1996; 67:451-6. [PMID: 8707424 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0215(19960729)67:3<451::aid-ijc23>3.0.co;2-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
ERV3 (HERV-R) is a complete human endogenous retrovirus located on the long arm of chromosome 7. LTR-env-gene-spliced mRNA of 9 and 3.5 Kb is widely expressed in human tissues and cells, but gag-pol mRNA has not been found. Further, the env gp70 gene contains an open reading frame throughout its length and its expression has recently been detected as a full-length protein. The highest expression of ERV3 detected so far is in placenta and the lowest in cytotrophoblasts and choriocarcinoma cell lines. In this report we have studied ERV3 mRNA and protein expression in the human monoblastic cell line U-937 during differentiation into monocytes/macrophages. Differentiation of U-937 cells was induced by 1,25a-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (vitD3), retinoic acid (RA), gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and phorbol-myristate-acetate (PMA-TPA). The expression of ERV3 env mRNA was found to be differentiation-associated, with high expression detected in the late stages of monocytic development. Using TPA, the expression of ERV3 env was detected as 9- and 3.5-kb transcripts by Northern blotting, as mRNA by in situ hybridization and as a cytoplasmic 65-kDa protein by immunofluorescence and Western blots. Low levels of basal expression were found, with up-regulation of both message and protein at 24 to 48 hr after addition of TPA. Induction with vitD3, IFN-gamma and RA produced higher levels of mRNA at earlier time points. It is concluded that the U-937 cell line represents an excellent model system for further studies to study the relationship between ERV3 expression and cellular differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Larsson
- Department of Pathology, Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden
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22
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Kitamura Y, Ayukawa T, Ishikawa T, Kanda T, Yoshiike K. Human endogenous retrovirus K10 encodes a functional integrase. J Virol 1996; 70:3302-6. [PMID: 8627815 PMCID: PMC190198 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.70.5.3302-3306.1996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
We cloned a human endogenous retrovirus K1O DNA fragment encoding integrase and expressed it as a fusion protein with Escherichia coli maltose-binding protein. Integrase activities were measured in vitro by using a double-stranded oligonucleotide as a substrate mimicking viral long terminal repeats (LTR). The fusion protein was highly active for both terminal cleavage and strand transfer in the presence of Mn2+ on the K1O LTR substrate. It was also active on both Rous sarcoma virus and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 LTR substrates, whereas Rous sarcoma virus and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 integrases were active only on their corresponding LTR substrates. The results strongly suggest that K1O encodes a functional integrase with relaxed substrate specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Kitamura
- Division of Molecular Genetics, National Institute of Health, Tokyo, Japan
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23
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Rasmussen HB, Heltberg A, Lisby G, Clausen J. Three allelic forms of the human endogenous retrovirus, ERV3, and their frequencies in multiple sclerosis patients and healthy individuals. Autoimmunity 1996; 23:111-7. [PMID: 8871766 DOI: 10.3109/08916939608995334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
A possible association between the endogenous retrovirus, ERV3, and multiple sclerosis (MS) was examined. Samples of DNA from 74 MS patients and 159 healthy blood donors were subjected to enzymatic amplification followed by single strand conformational analysis to detect polymorphisms in the long terminal repeats of ERV3. Using this approach we detected six single base pair variations and a drop-out of a nucleotide. The linkage pattern of these base pair variations enabled us to define three allelic forms of ERV3. Polymorphisms exclusively present in the group of patients were not found and the distribution of the three allelic forms did not differ significantly between the group of controls and the MS group. Neither was there a significant difference in the distribution of the three alleles between MS patients with the progressive form and patients with relapsing/remitting MS. Our results are not in support of an association between ERV3 and MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- H B Rasmussen
- Institute of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Roskilde University, Denmark
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Luppi P, Rossiello MR, Faas S, Trucco M. Genetic background and environment contribute synergistically to the onset of autoimmune diseases. J Mol Med (Berl) 1995; 73:381-93. [PMID: 8528740 DOI: 10.1007/bf00240137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases result from the breakdown of "self" tolerance. Environmental factors appear to be responsible for triggering this errant immune response, directed against self-tissue determinants, only when a susceptible genetic background is present in an individual. Autoimmune diseases, normally characterized by their association with certain HLA alleles, also share other features: the presence of autoantibodies, autoreactive T lymphocytes, and an intermittent clinical course of exacerbations and remissions. In cases of organ-specific diseases, as well as in cases of multi-system autoimmune diseases, viruses are increasingly implicated as such environmental triggers. Current molecular biology techniques have permitted a fine dissection of the genetic background of susceptible individuals and have enabled a more complete characterization of the immunocompetent cells involved in this autoaggression. Molecular approaches will soon allow us to pinpoint the characteristics of the environmental stimuli, so that protective strategies could be formulated to spare susceptible individuals from their ill effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Luppi
- Department of Pediatrics, Rangos Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburg, School of Medicine, PA 15213, USA
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