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Lemus YB, Martínez GA, Lugo LP, Escorcia LG, Peñata EZ, Llanos NS, Bonfanti AC, Acosta-Hoyos AJ, Quiroz EN. Gene profiling of Epstein-Barr Virus and human endogenous retrovirus in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of SLE patients: immune response implications. Sci Rep 2024; 14:20236. [PMID: 39215087 PMCID: PMC11364757 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-70913-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifactorial disease characterized by the convergence of genetic, immunological, and viral elements resulting in a complex interaction of both internal and external factors. The role of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human endogenous retroviruses (HERV-E) as triggers and maintenance elements in the pathogenesis of SLE has been widely recognized. Previous studies have independently evaluated the effects of EBV and HERV-E in this disease. In this work, for the first time, these viral factors are jointly investigated in SLE patients. This study aimed at assessing the differential expression of immune regulatory genes and the incidence of specific viral pathogens (EBV and HERV-E), alongside the detailed characterization of surface markers in T- and B-lymphocytes in patients with SLE and control participants. A comparative analysis between patients with SLE and control participants was performed, evaluating the expression of phenotypic markers and genes involved in the immune response (TNF-α, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IFNG, TLR3), as well as HERV-E gag and EBV viral genes (LMP1 and BZLF1).A significant association between SLE and EBV was found in this study. A notable increase in EBV LMP1 gene expression was observed in patients with SLE . Also, a significant overexpression of HERV-E was observed, in addition to a considerable increase in the distribution of the cell surface marker CD27 + on T- and B-lymphocytes, observed in individuals with SLE compared to the control group. This study provides evidence regarding the role that EBV virus plays in lymphocytes in the context of SLE, highlighting how both the virus and the host gene expression may influence disease pathogenesis by altering immune regulatory pathways mediated by TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-10, as well as parallel overexpression of HERV-E gag. The decrease in TLR3 could indicate a compromised antiviral response, which could facilitate viral reactivation and contribute to disease activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yesit Bello Lemus
- Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de La Vida, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Biomédicas, Universidad Simón Bolívar, 080002, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia.
| | - Gustavo Aroca Martínez
- Clínica de La Costa, 080020, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
- Facultad de Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad Simón Bolívar, 080002, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | - Lisandro Pacheco Lugo
- Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de La Vida, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Biomédicas, Universidad Simón Bolívar, 080002, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | | | - Eloína Zarate Peñata
- Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de La Vida, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Biomédicas, Universidad Simón Bolívar, 080002, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | - Nataly Solano Llanos
- Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de La Vida, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Biomédicas, Universidad Simón Bolívar, 080002, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | - Andrés Cadena Bonfanti
- Clínica de La Costa, 080020, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
- Facultad de Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad Simón Bolívar, 080002, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | - Antonio J Acosta-Hoyos
- Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de La Vida, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Biomédicas, Universidad Simón Bolívar, 080002, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | - Elkin Navarro Quiroz
- Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de La Vida, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Biomédicas, Universidad Simón Bolívar, 080002, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
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Bo M, Manetti R, Biggio ML, Sechi LA. The Humoral Immune Response against Human Endogenous Retroviruses in Celiac Disease: A Case-Control Study. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1811. [PMID: 39200275 PMCID: PMC11351412 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12081811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2024] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 09/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated disease characterized by disruptions of the small intestine. Factors such as viral and bacterial infections can trigger CD. Recently, the reactivation of Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs) has also been implicated, but little is known about their specific role in patients with celiac disease. METHODS The purpose of this study is to explore the humoral immune response mounted against epitopes derived from the envelope portion of three families of HERVs (HERV-K, HERV-H, and HERV-W) in CD patients. Reactivity against the HERV-K, HERV-H, and HERV-W env-su peptides was tested by indirect ELISAs in plasma of 40 patients with celiac disease and 41 age-matched healthy subjects (HCs). RESULTS HERV-K, HERV-H, and HERV-W env-su peptides triggered different antibody responses in CD patients compared to HCs, with a stronger reactivity (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Present results show, for the first time, that epitopes of HERV-K, HERV-H, and HERV-W are more recognized in patients with CD. Taking into consideration their proinflammatory and autoimmune features, this might suggest that HERVs may contribute to the development of CD or its exacerbation in genetically predisposed subjects. Finally, to elucidate the interplay between gut inflammation and HERVs during the inflammatory process, further studies are required. Those investigations should focus on the expression levels of HERVs and their relationship with the immune response, specifically examining anti-transglutaminase 2 (TG2) antibody levels under both gluten-free and gluten-containing dietary conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Bo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43b, 07100 Sassari, Italy;
- Struttura Complessa Microbiologia e Virologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Roberto Manetti
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacology, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (R.M.)
| | - Maria Luigia Biggio
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacology, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (R.M.)
| | - Leonardo A. Sechi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43b, 07100 Sassari, Italy;
- Struttura Complessa Microbiologia e Virologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
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Koncz B, Balogh GM, Manczinger M. A journey to your self: The vague definition of immune self and its practical implications. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2309674121. [PMID: 38722806 PMCID: PMC11161755 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2309674121] [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] [Indexed: 06/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The identification of immunogenic peptides has become essential in an increasing number of fields in immunology, ranging from tumor immunotherapy to vaccine development. The nature of the adaptive immune response is shaped by the similarity between foreign and self-protein sequences, a concept extensively applied in numerous studies. Can we precisely define the degree of similarity to self? Furthermore, do we accurately define immune self? In the current work, we aim to unravel the conceptual and mechanistic vagueness hindering the assessment of self-similarity. Accordingly, we demonstrate the remarkably low consistency among commonly employed measures and highlight potential avenues for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balázs Koncz
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Institute of Biochemistry, Hungarian Research Network (HUN-REN) Biological Research Centre, Szeged6726, Hungary
- Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine - Biological Research Centre (HCEMM-BRC) Systems Immunology Research Group, Szeged6726, Hungary
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Szeged, Szeged6720, Hungary
| | - Gergő Mihály Balogh
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Institute of Biochemistry, Hungarian Research Network (HUN-REN) Biological Research Centre, Szeged6726, Hungary
- Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine - Biological Research Centre (HCEMM-BRC) Systems Immunology Research Group, Szeged6726, Hungary
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Szeged, Szeged6720, Hungary
| | - Máté Manczinger
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Institute of Biochemistry, Hungarian Research Network (HUN-REN) Biological Research Centre, Szeged6726, Hungary
- Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine - Biological Research Centre (HCEMM-BRC) Systems Immunology Research Group, Szeged6726, Hungary
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Szeged, Szeged6720, Hungary
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Krishnan VS, Kõks S. Transcriptional Landscape of Repetitive Elements in Psoriatic Skin from Large Cohort Studies: Relevance to Psoriasis Pathophysiology. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16725. [PMID: 38069048 PMCID: PMC10706217 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
While studies demonstrating the expression of repetitive elements (REs) in psoriatic skin using RNA-seq have been published before, not many studies have focused on the genome-wide expression patterns using larger cohorts. This study investigated the transcriptional landscape of differentially expressed REs in lesional and non-lesional skin from two previously published large datasets. We observed significant differential expression of REs in lesional psoriatic skin as well as the skin of healthy controls. Significant downregulation of several ERVs, HERVs (including HERV-K) and LINEs was observed in lesional psoriatic skin from both datasets. The upregulation of a small subset of HERV-Ks and Alus in lesional psoriatic skin was also reported. An interesting finding from this expression data was the significant upregulation and overlapping of tRNA repetitive elements in lesional and non-lesional psoriatic skin. The data from this study indicate the potential role of REs in the immunopathogenesis of psoriasis. The expression data from the two independent large study cohorts are powerful enough to confidently verify the differential expression of REs in relation to psoriatic skin pathology. Further studies are warranted to understand the functional impact of these repetitive elements in psoriasis pathogenesis, thereby expanding their significance as a potential targeting pathway for the disease treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vidya S. Krishnan
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Discovery Way, Murdoch, WA 1650, Australia;
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, 8 Verdun St., Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Sulev Kõks
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Discovery Way, Murdoch, WA 1650, Australia;
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, 8 Verdun St., Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
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5
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Ko EJ, Kim MH, Kim DY, An H, Leem SH, Choi YH, Kim HS, Cha HJ. The Role of Human Endogenous Retrovirus (HERV)-K119 env in THP-1 Monocytic Cell Differentiation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15566. [PMID: 37958549 PMCID: PMC10648273 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115566] [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: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Human endogenous retrovirus (HERV)-K was reportedly inserted into the human genome millions of years ago and is closely related to various diseases, including cancer and immune regulation. In our previous studies, CRISPR-Cas9-enabled knockout (KO) of the HERV-K env gene was found to potentially reduce cell proliferation, cell migration, and invasion in colorectal and ovarian cancer cell lines. The immune response involves the migration and invasion of cells and is similar to cancer; however, in certain ways, it is completely unlike cancer. Therefore, we induced HERV-K119 env gene KO in THP-1, a monocytic cell that can be differentiated into a macrophage, to investigate the role of HERV-K119 env in immune regulation. Cell migration and invasion were noted to be significantly increased in HERV-K119 env KO THP-1 cells than in MOCK, and these results were contrary to those of cancer cells. To identify the underlying mechanism of HERV-K119 env KO in THP-1 cells, transcriptome analysis and cytokine array analysis were conducted. Semaphorin7A (SEMA7A), which induces the production of cytokines in macrophages and monocytic cells and plays an important role in immune effector cell activation during an inflammatory immune response, was significantly increased in HERV-K119 env KO THP-1 cells. We also found that HERV-K119 env KO THP-1 cells expressed various macrophage-specific surface markers, suggesting that KO of HERV-K119 env triggers the differentiation of THP-1 cells from monocytic cells into macrophages. In addition, analysis of the expression of M1 and M2 macrophage markers showed that M1 macrophage marker cluster of differentiation 32 (CD32) was significantly increased in HERV-K119 env KO cells. These results suggest that HERV-K119 env is implicated in the differentiation of monocytic cells into M1 macrophages and plays important roles in the immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun-Ji Ko
- Departments of Parasitology and Genetics, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan 49267, Republic of Korea; (E.-J.K.); (M.-H.K.); (D.-Y.K.); (H.A.)
| | - Min-Hye Kim
- Departments of Parasitology and Genetics, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan 49267, Republic of Korea; (E.-J.K.); (M.-H.K.); (D.-Y.K.); (H.A.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Republic of Korea;
| | - Do-Ye Kim
- Departments of Parasitology and Genetics, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan 49267, Republic of Korea; (E.-J.K.); (M.-H.K.); (D.-Y.K.); (H.A.)
| | - Hyojin An
- Departments of Parasitology and Genetics, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan 49267, Republic of Korea; (E.-J.K.); (M.-H.K.); (D.-Y.K.); (H.A.)
| | - Sun-Hee Leem
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Republic of Korea;
| | - Yung Hyun Choi
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Oriental Medicine, Dongeui University, Busan 47227, Republic of Korea;
| | - Heui-Soo Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 49241, Republic of Korea;
| | - Hee-Jae Cha
- Departments of Parasitology and Genetics, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan 49267, Republic of Korea; (E.-J.K.); (M.-H.K.); (D.-Y.K.); (H.A.)
- Institute for Medical Science, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan 49267, Republic of Korea
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Tseng CW, Gupta L. Other iatrogenic immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders in anti-melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 associated myositis-Truly iatrogenic or primary immunodeficiency? Int J Rheum Dis 2023; 26:1653-1655. [PMID: 37664961 DOI: 10.1111/1756-185x.14788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Wei Tseng
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Latika Gupta
- Department of Rheumatology, Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust, Wolverhampton, UK
- Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Department of Rheumatology, City Hospital, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK
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7
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Tavakolian S, Iranshahi M, Faghihloo E. The Evaluation of HERV-K np9, rec, gag Expression in Isolated Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell (PBMC) of Gastric and Colon Cancer. Adv Biomed Res 2023; 12:131. [PMID: 37434925 PMCID: PMC10331531 DOI: 10.4103/abr.abr_288_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In the current age of diagnostic approaches in cancer, countless efforts have been allocated to identify novel and efficient biomarkers to detect cancer in its early stages. We focused on evaluating the correlation between the progression of gastrointestinal cancer, a leading cause of cancer death worldwide, and human endogenous retrovirus (HERV). Materials and Methods In this study, we conducted a study on the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) gathered from gastric and colon cancer patients. We focused on HERV-K rec, np9, gag expression analysis by quantitative real-time PCR, after extraction of RNA and synthesizing cDNA. Results Unlike np9 whose expression increased significantly in the colon and gastric cancers, the mRNA level of the rec gene declined in both cancers. Moreover, our data illustrated that the over-expression of the gag gene was only observed in colon cancerous cells rather than gastric malignancy. Conclusions Overall, given the correlation between the expression level of HERV-associated genes and gastrointestinal cancer, our study suggests that these genes could be considered beneficial markers for cancer diagnosis. However, researchers should conduct studies in future articles on whether these genes can be employed as biomarkers in gastrointestinal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaian Tavakolian
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Iranshahi
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ebrahim Faghihloo
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Subramanian K, Paul S, Libby A, Patterson J, Arterbery A, Knight J, Castaldi C, Wang G, Avitzur Y, Martinez M, Lobritto S, Deng Y, Geliang G, Kroemer A, Fishbein T, Mason A, Dominguez-Villar M, Mariappan M, Ekong UD. HERV1-env Induces Unfolded Protein Response Activation in Autoimmune Liver Disease: A Potential Mechanism for Regulatory T Cell Dysfunction. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2023; 210:732-744. [PMID: 36722941 PMCID: PMC10691554 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are not terminally differentiated but can acquire effector properties. Here we report an increased expression of human endogenous retrovirus 1 (HERV1-env) proteins in Tregs of patients with de novo autoimmune hepatitis and autoimmune hepatitis, which induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. HERV1-env-triggered ER stress activates all three branches (IRE1, ATF6, and PERK) of the unfolded protein response (UPR). Our coimmunoprecipitation studies show an interaction between HERV1-env proteins and the ATF6 branch of the UPR. The activated form of ATF6α activates the expression of RORC and STAT3 by binding to promoter sequences and induces IL-17A production. Silencing of HERV1-env results in recovery of Treg suppressive function. These findings identify ER stress and UPR activation as key factors driving Treg plasticity (species: human).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kumar Subramanian
- Department of Surgery, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Saikat Paul
- Department of Surgery, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Andrew Libby
- Dept of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
| | - Jordan Patterson
- Division of Gastroenterology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Adam Arterbery
- Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - James Knight
- Yale Center for Genome Analysis, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Guilin Wang
- Yale Center for Genome Analysis, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yaron Avitzur
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mercedes Martinez
- Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Steve Lobritto
- Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yanhong Deng
- Yale Center for Analytical Sciences, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Gan Geliang
- Yale Center for Analytical Sciences, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Alexander Kroemer
- Department of Surgery, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Thomas Fishbein
- Department of Surgery, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Andrew Mason
- Division of Gastroenterology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | | | | | - Udeme D. Ekong
- Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Surgery, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
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Calvin DJD, Steve RJ, Kannangai R, Abraham P, Udhaya Kumar S, Balasundaram A, George Priya Doss C, Thomas V, Thomas A, Danda D, Fletcher JG. HPV and molecular mimicry in systemic lupus erythematosus and an impact of compiling B-cell epitopes and MHC-class II binding profiles with in silico evidence. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:12338-12346. [PMID: 36744526 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2175261] [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] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological link between HPV and SLE is evolving. The possibility of HPV infection-induced molecular mimicry and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was elucidated through detailed in silico analyses. Conserved regions in the structural protein sequences of high-risk HPV types were inferred, and sequence homologies between viral and human peptides were identified to delineate proteins implicated in SLE. B-cell epitopes and MHC-class II binding were compiled using Immune Epitope Database and ProPred II analysis tool. Molecular modeling and molecular dynamics/simulation (MDS) were performed using AutoDock Vina and GROMACS, respectively. Sequence alignment revealed 32 conserved regions, and 27/32 viral peptides showed varying similarities to human peptides, rich in B-cell epitopes with superior accessibility, high hydrophilicity, antigenicity and disposition to bind many class-II HLA alleles. Molecular docking of 13 viral peptides homologous (100%) to human peptides implicated in SLE showed that VIR-PEP1 (QLFNKPYWL) and VIR-PEP2 (DTYRFVTS) exhibited higher binding affinities than corresponding human peptides to SLE predisposing HLA-DRB1 allele. MDS of these peptides showed that the viral peptides had superior folding, compactness, and a higher number of hydrogen bonds than human peptides throughout the simulation period. SASA analysis revealed that the VIR-PEP1&2 fluctuated less frequently than corresponding human peptides. MM-PBSA revealed that the VIR-PEP2 complex exhibited higher binding energy than the human peptide complex. This suggests that highly conserved structural peptides of high-risk HPV types homologous to human peptides could compete and bind avidly to the HLA allele associated with SLE and predispose HPV-infected individuals to SLE through molecular mimicry.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- D John Dickson Calvin
- Department of Clinical Virology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Runal John Steve
- Department of Clinical Virology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Rajesh Kannangai
- Department of Clinical Virology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Priya Abraham
- Department of Clinical Virology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - S Udhaya Kumar
- Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, School of BioSciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ambritha Balasundaram
- Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, School of BioSciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - C George Priya Doss
- Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, School of BioSciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Vinotha Thomas
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Anitha Thomas
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Debashish Danda
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
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Gerber JP, Russ J, Chandrasekar V, Offermann N, Lee HM, Spear S, Guzzi N, Maida S, Pattabiraman S, Zhang R, Kayvanjoo AH, Datta P, Kasturiarachchi J, Sposito T, Izotova N, Händler K, Adams PD, Marafioti T, Enver T, Wenzel J, Beyer M, Mass E, Bellodi C, Schultze JL, Capasso M, Nimmo R, Salomoni P. Aberrant chromatin landscape following loss of the H3.3 chaperone Daxx in haematopoietic precursors leads to Pu.1-mediated neutrophilia and inflammation. Nat Cell Biol 2021; 23:1224-1239. [PMID: 34876685 PMCID: PMC8683376 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-021-00774-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Defective silencing of retrotransposable elements has been linked to inflammageing, cancer and autoimmune diseases. However, the underlying mechanisms are only partially understood. Here we implicate the histone H3.3 chaperone Daxx, a retrotransposable element repressor inactivated in myeloid leukaemia and other neoplasms, in protection from inflammatory disease. Loss of Daxx alters the chromatin landscape, H3.3 distribution and histone marks of haematopoietic progenitors, leading to engagement of a Pu.1-dependent transcriptional programme for myelopoiesis at the expense of B-cell differentiation. This causes neutrophilia and inflammation, predisposing mice to develop an autoinflammatory skin disease. While these molecular and phenotypic perturbations are in part reverted in animals lacking both Pu.1 and Daxx, haematopoietic progenitors in these mice show unique chromatin and transcriptome alterations, suggesting an interaction between these two pathways. Overall, our findings implicate retrotransposable element silencing in haematopoiesis and suggest a cross-talk between the H3.3 loading machinery and the pioneer transcription factor Pu.1.
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Grants
- P01 AG031862 NIA NIH HHS
- C416/A25145 Cancer Research UK
- C16420/A18066 Cancer Research UK
- MC_U132670601 Medical Research Council
- C33499/A20265 Cancer Research UK
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases)
- Worldwide Cancer Research
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)
- EC | EC Seventh Framework Programm | FP7 People: Marie-Curie Actions (FP7-PEOPLE - Specific Programme People Implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (2007 to 2013))
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germany’s Excellence Strategy – EXC2151 – 390873048, Excellence Cluster Immunosensation2
- Aging and Metabolic Programming (AMPro) Consortium from Helmholtz
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germany’s Excellence Strategy – EXC2151 – 390873048, Excellence Cluster Immunosensation2ImmunoSensation2
- Cancer Research UK (CRUK)
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germany’s Excellence Strategy – EXC2151 – 390873048, Excellence Cluster ImmunoSensation2
- EC | EC Seventh Framework Programm | FP7 Ideas: European Research Council (FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific Programme: Ideas Implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (2007 to 2013))
- Wilhelm Sander-Stiftung (Wilhelm Sander Foundation)
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germany’s Excellence Strategy – EXC2151 – 390873048, Excellence Cluster ImmunoSensation2 Aging and Metabolic Programming (AMPro) Consortium from Helmholtz
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia P Gerber
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Department of Cancer Biology, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Jenny Russ
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Nina Offermann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Hang-Mao Lee
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Sarah Spear
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Nicola Guzzi
- Division of Molecular Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund Stem Cell Center, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Simona Maida
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Ruoyu Zhang
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Amir H Kayvanjoo
- Life and Medical Sciences (LIMES) Institute, Developmental Biology of the Immune System, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Preeta Datta
- Department of Cancer Biology, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | | | - Teresa Sposito
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Natalia Izotova
- Department of Cancer Biology, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Kristian Händler
- Platform for Single Cell Genomics and Epigenomics (PRECISE) at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Peter D Adams
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, USA
| | - Teresa Marafioti
- Department of Cancer Biology, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Department of Pathology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Tariq Enver
- Department of Cancer Biology, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Jörg Wenzel
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, University Medical Center, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marc Beyer
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Platform for Single Cell Genomics and Epigenomics (PRECISE) at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Elvira Mass
- Life and Medical Sciences (LIMES) Institute, Developmental Biology of the Immune System, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Cristian Bellodi
- Division of Molecular Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund Stem Cell Center, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Joachim L Schultze
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Platform for Single Cell Genomics and Epigenomics (PRECISE) at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Genomics and Immunoregulation, LIMES Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Melania Capasso
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Rachael Nimmo
- Department of Cancer Biology, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Paolo Salomoni
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany.
- Department of Cancer Biology, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK.
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11
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Liang G, Cobián-Güemes AG, Albenberg L, Bushman F. The gut virome in inflammatory bowel diseases. Curr Opin Virol 2021; 51:190-198. [PMID: 34763180 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2021.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Dysbiosis of the microbiome has been extensively studied in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The roles of bacteria and fungi have been studied in detail, but viral communities, an important component of the microbiome, have been less thoroughly investigated. Metagenomics provided a way to fill this gap by using DNA sequencing to enumerate all viruses in a sample, termed the 'virome'. Such methods have now been employed in several studies to assess associations between viral communities and IBD, yielding several commonly seen properties, including an increase in tailed bacteriophage (Caudovirales) and a decrease in the spherical Microviridae. Numerous studies of single human viruses have been carried out, but no one virus has emerged as tightly associated, focusing attention on whole virome communities and further factors. This review provides an overview of research on the human virome in IBD, with emphasis on (1) dynamics of the gut virome, (2) candidate mechanisms of virome alterations with disease, (3) methods for studying the virome, and (4) potentially actionable implications of virome data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanxiang Liang
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-6076, USA.
| | - Ana Georgina Cobián-Güemes
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-6076, USA
| | - Lindsey Albenberg
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-4399, USA
| | - Frederic Bushman
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-6076, USA.
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12
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Liu X, Ding Y, Zheng X, Huang H, Shi L, Yang X, Wei J, Li Y, Kao W, Zhang F, Qian J. Small RNAs encoded by human endogenous retrovirus K overexpressed in PBMCs may contribute to the diagnosis and evaluation of systemic lupus erythematosus as novel biomarkers. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 31:1407-1416. [PMID: 34761271 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to identify the genes and small RNAs (sRNAs) expressed by the human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K) HML2 and their associations with the immune process of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). RNA-Seq data including 99 SLE patients and 18 controls (GSE72420) was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) as well as HML2-DEGs between SLE patients and normal controls were identified. Five HML2-DEGs involved in immune-regulating function were identified using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). The associations between these genes and the proportions of immune cells were determined by CIBERSORT. Ten candidate HML2-encoded sRNAs were identified based on specific criteria, and three of them were further validated in SLE patients by qRT-PCR. The diagnostic values of these three sRNAs were evaluated in SLE and lupus nephritis (LN). This study suggested that HML2 genes and their encoded sRNAs might be involved in the immune regulation and progress of SLE. These potential sRNAs might function as regulatory molecules and diagnostic biomarkers of SLE and LN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Liu
- Wu Lien-Teh Institute, Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.,Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Pathogen Biology, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Yanjun Ding
- Wu Lien-Teh Institute, Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.,Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Pathogen Biology, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Xiaoqiu Zheng
- Wu Lien-Teh Institute, Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.,Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Pathogen Biology, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - He Huang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Liyu Shi
- Wu Lien-Teh Institute, Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.,Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Pathogen Biology, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Xiaolan Yang
- Wu Lien-Teh Institute, Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.,Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Pathogen Biology, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Jing Wei
- Wu Lien-Teh Institute, Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.,Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Pathogen Biology, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Wenping Kao
- Wu Lien-Teh Institute, Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.,Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Pathogen Biology, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Fengmin Zhang
- Wu Lien-Teh Institute, Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.,Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Pathogen Biology, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Jun Qian
- Wu Lien-Teh Institute, Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.,Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Pathogen Biology, Harbin, 150081, China
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13
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Greaves RB, Chen D, Green EA. Thymic B Cells as a New Player in the Type 1 Diabetes Response. Front Immunol 2021; 12:772017. [PMID: 34745148 PMCID: PMC8566354 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.772017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes (T1d) results from a sustained autoreactive T and B cell response towards insulin-producing β cells in the islets of Langerhans. The autoreactive nature of the condition has led to many investigations addressing the genetic or cellular changes in primary lymphoid tissues that impairs central tolerance- a key process in the deletion of autoreactive T and B cells during their development. For T cells, these studies have largely focused on medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) critical for the effective negative selection of autoreactive T cells in the thymus. Recently, a new cellular player that impacts positively or negatively on the deletion of autoreactive T cells during their development has come to light, thymic B cells. Normally a small population within the thymus of mouse and man, thymic B cells expand in T1d as well as other autoimmune conditions, reside in thymic ectopic germinal centres and secrete autoantibodies that bind selective mTECs precipitating mTEC death. In this review we will discuss the ontogeny, characteristics and functionality of thymic B cells in healthy and autoimmune settings. Furthermore, we explore how in silico approaches may help decipher the complex cellular interplay of thymic B cells with other cells within the thymic microenvironment leading to new avenues for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard B Greaves
- Centre for Experimental Medicine and Biomedicine, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Dawei Chen
- Centre for Experimental Medicine and Biomedicine, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - E Allison Green
- Centre for Experimental Medicine and Biomedicine, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, United Kingdom
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14
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Jasemi S, Erre GL, Cadoni ML, Bo M, Sechi LA. Humoral Response to Microbial Biomarkers in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10215153. [PMID: 34768672 PMCID: PMC8584451 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10215153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background/Objective: Chronic humoral immune response against multiple microbial antigens may play a crucial role in the etiopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We aimed to assess the prevalence and magnitude of antibody response against various bacterial and viral immunogen peptides in the sera of RA patients compared with the general population. Methods: Polyclonal IgG antibodies (Abs) specific for peptides derived from Porphyromonas gingivalis (RgpA, Kpg), Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (LtxA1, LtxA2), Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP4027), Epstein–Barr virus (EBNA1, EBVBOLF), and human endogenous retrovirus (HERV-W env-su) were detected by ELISA in serum samples from 148 consecutive RA patients and 148 sex and age-matched healthy controls (HCs). In addition, the presence of a relationship between the positivity and the titer of antibodies and RA descriptors was explored by bivariate correlation analysis. Results: RA patients exhibit a higher prevalence of humoral immune response against all tested peptides compared to HCs with a statically significant difference for MAP4027 (30.4% vs. 10.1%), BOLF (25.7% vs. 8.1%), RgpA (24.3% vs. 9.4%), HERV W-env (20.3% vs. 9.4%), and EBNA1 (18.9% vs. 9.4%) peptides. Fifty-three (35.8%) out of 148 RA serum and 93 (62.8%) out of 148 HCs were negative for all pathogen-derived peptides. There was a significant correlation between OD values obtained by ELISA test against all peptides (p < 0.0001). We also found an increased titer and prevalence of Abs against LtxA1 and LtxA2 in seropositive vs. seronegative RF (p = 0.019, p = 0.018). Conclusion: This study demonstrates a significantly increased humoral response against multiple pathogens in patients with RA and implies that they could be an important factor in the pathogenesis of the disease. Therefore, the role of each individual pathogen in RA needs to be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyedesomaye Jasemi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43b, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (S.J.); (M.B.)
| | - Gian Luca Erre
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (G.L.E.); (M.L.C.)
- Dipartimento di Specialità Mediche, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Cadoni
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (G.L.E.); (M.L.C.)
- Dipartimento di Specialità Mediche, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Marco Bo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43b, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (S.J.); (M.B.)
| | - Leonardo A. Sechi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43b, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (S.J.); (M.B.)
- Struttura Complessa di Microbiologia e Virologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-079228462
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15
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Tavakolian S, Goudarzi H, Moridi A, Faghihloo E. Analysing the HERV-K env, np9, rec and gag expression in cervical tissues. New Microbes New Infect 2021; 44:100936. [PMID: 34621524 PMCID: PMC8484807 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmni.2021.100936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cervical cancer is considered to be the fourth common cancer. It is assumed that numerous risk factors, especially infectious ones, can have a detrimental effect on cervical cancer. In this study, we evaluated the expression of Herv-K env, np9, rec and gag in cervical tissues. After RNA extraction and cDNA sensitizing of 12 cervical cancer tissues and CIN3, 51 CIN1,2 and 18 normal ones, Herv-K env, np9, rec and gag were assessed using quantitative real-time PCR analysis. There was a decrease in the level of HERV-K env expression in cervical cancer and CIN 1-3 in compression with normal tissues. Cervical cancer and CIN3 indicated the most increase in expression. Meanwhile, we observed an increase in gag and rec expression in CIN 1,2; although cervical cancer and CIN 3 had a decrease in rec and gag expression, we did not report any changes in np expression. In conclusion, given the relationship between HERV-associated genes and cervical cancer, our study suggests that these genes can be useful for cancer diagnosis. However, further investigations are needed to provide a better perspective about the effectiveness of these genes in the diagnostic strategies of gastrointestinal cancer. These results are just an observation that could open a wider investigation to test the correlation between the expression of these genes and cervical cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Tavakolian
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - H Goudarzi
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - A Moridi
- Clinical Research Development Center, Mahdiyeh Educational Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University Of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - E Faghihloo
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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16
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Ko EJ, Song KS, Ock MS, Choi YH, Kim S, Kim HS, Cha HJ. Expression profiles of human endogenous retrovirus (HERV)-K and HERV-R Env proteins in various cancers. BMB Rep 2021. [PMID: 33691904 PMCID: PMC8328825 DOI: 10.5483/bmbrep.2021.54.7.246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The vertebrate genome contains an endogenous retrovirus that has been inherited from the past millions of years. Although approximately 8% of human chromosomal DNA consists of sequences derived from human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) fragments, most of the HERVs are currently inactive and non-infectious due to recombination, deletions, and mutations after insertion into the host genome. Several studies suggested that Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) factors are significantly related to certain cancers. However, only limited studies have been conducted to analyze the expression of HERV derived elements at protein levels in certain cancers. Herein, we analyzed the expression profiles of HERV-K envelope (Env) and HERV-R Env proteins in eleven different kinds of cancer tissues. Furthermore, the expression patterns of both protein and correlation with various clinical data in each tissue were analyzed. The expressions of both HERV-K Env and HERV-R Env protein were identified to be significantly high in most of the tumors compared with normal surrounding tissues. Correlations between HERV Env expressions and clinical investigations varied depending on the HERV types and cancers. Overall expression patterns of HERV-K Env and HERV-R Env proteins were different in every individual but a similar pattern of expressions was observed in the same individual. These results demonstrate the expression profiles of HERV-K and HERV-R Env proteins in various cancer tissues and provide a good reference for the association of endogenous retroviral Env proteins in the progression of various cancers. Furthermore, the results elucidate the relationship between HERV-Env expression and the clinical significance of certain cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun-Ji Ko
- Department of Parasitology and Genetics, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan 49267, Korea
- Department of Biological Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea
| | - Kyoung Seob Song
- Department of Physiology, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan 49267, Korea
| | - Mee Sun Ock
- Department of Parasitology and Genetics, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan 49267, Korea
| | - Yung Hyun Choi
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Oriental Medicine, Dongeui University, Busan 47227, Korea
| | - Suhkmann Kim
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea
| | - Heui-Soo Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea
| | - Hee-Jae Cha
- Department of Parasitology and Genetics, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan 49267, Korea
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17
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Ko EJ, Song KS, Ock MS, Choi YH, Kim S, Kim HS, Cha HJ. Expression profiles of human endogenous retrovirus (HERV)-K and HERV-R Env proteins in various cancers. BMB Rep 2021; 54:368-373. [PMID: 33691904 PMCID: PMC8328825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The vertebrate genome contains an endogenous retrovirus that has been inherited from the past millions of years. Although approximately 8% of human chromosomal DNA consists of sequences derived from human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) fragments, most of the HERVs are currently inactive and noninfectious due to recombination, deletions, and mutations after insertion into the host genome. Several studies suggested that Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) factors are significantly related to certain cancers. However, only limited studies have been conducted to analyze the expression of HERV derived elements at protein levels in certain cancers. Herein, we analyzed the expression profiles of HERV-K envelope (Env) and HERV-R Env proteins in eleven different kinds of cancer tissues. Furthermore, the expression patterns of both protein and correlation with various clinical data in each tissue were analyzed. The expressions of both HERV-K Env and HERV-R Env protein were identified to be significantly high in most of the tumors compared with normal surrounding tissues. Correlations between HERV Env expressions and clinical investigations varied depending on the HERV types and cancers. Overall expression patterns of HERV-K Env and HERV-R Env proteins were different in every individual but a similar pattern of expressions was observed in the same individual. These results demonstrate the expression profiles of HERV-K and HERV-R Env proteins in various cancer tissues and provide a good reference for the association of endogenous retroviral Env proteins in the progression of various cancers. Furthermore, the results elucidate the relationship between HERV-Env expression and the clinical significance of certain cancers. [BMB Reports 2021; 54(7): 368-373].
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun-Ji Ko
- Department of Parasitology and Genetics, Busan 46241, Korea
- Department of Biological Sciences, Busan 46241, Korea
| | - Kyoung Seob Song
- Department of Physiology, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan 49267, Korea
| | - Mee Sun Ock
- Department of Parasitology and Genetics, Busan 46241, Korea
| | - Yung Hyun Choi
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Oriental Medicine, Dongeui University, Busan 47227, Korea
| | - Suhkmann Kim
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea
| | - Heui-Soo Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Busan 46241, Korea
| | - Hee-Jae Cha
- Department of Parasitology and Genetics, Busan 46241, Korea
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18
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Kulski JK, Suzuki S, Shiina T. Haplotype Shuffling and Dimorphic Transposable Elements in the Human Extended Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Region. Front Genet 2021; 12:665899. [PMID: 34122517 PMCID: PMC8193847 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.665899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on chromosome 6p21 is one of the most single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-dense regions of the human genome and a prime model for the study and understanding of conserved sequence polymorphisms and structural diversity of ancestral haplotypes/conserved extended haplotypes. This study aimed to follow up on a previous analysis of the MHC class I region by using the same set of 95 MHC haplotype sequences downloaded from a publicly available BioProject database at the National Center for Biotechnology Information to identify and characterize the polymorphic human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-class II genes, the MTCO3P1 pseudogene alleles, the indels of transposable elements as haplotypic lineage markers, and SNP-density crossover (XO) loci at haplotype junctions in DNA sequence alignments of different haplotypes across the extended class II region (∼1 Mb) from the telomeric PRRT1 gene in class III to the COL11A2 gene at the centromeric end of class II. We identified 42 haplotypic indels (20 Alu, 7 SVA, 13 LTR or MERs, and 2 indels composed of a mosaic of different transposable elements) linked to particular HLA-class II alleles. Comparative sequence analyses of 136 haplotype pairs revealed 98 unique XO sites between SNP-poor and SNP-rich genomic segments with considerable haplotype shuffling located in the proximity of putative recombination hotspots. The majority of XO sites occurred across various regions including in the vicinity of MTCO3P1 between HLA-DQB1 and HLA-DQB3, between HLA-DQB2 and HLA-DOB, between DOB and TAP2, and between HLA-DOA and HLA-DPA1, where most XOs were within a HERVK22 sequence. We also determined the genomic positions of the PRDM9-recombination suppression sequence motif ATCCATG/CATGGAT and the PRDM9 recombination activation partial binding motif CCTCCCCT/AGGGGAG in the class II region of the human reference genome (NC_ 000006) relative to published meiotic recombination positions. Both the recombination and anti-recombination PRDM9 binding motifs were widely distributed throughout the class II genomic regions with 50% or more found within repeat elements; the anti-recombination motifs were found mostly in L1 fragmented repeats. This study shows substantial haplotype shuffling between different polymorphic blocks and confirms the presence of numerous putative ancestral recombination sites across the class II region between various HLA class II genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerzy K Kulski
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.,Department of Molecular Life Sciences, Division of Basic Medical Science and Molecular Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Japan
| | - Shingo Suzuki
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, Division of Basic Medical Science and Molecular Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Japan
| | - Takashi Shiina
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, Division of Basic Medical Science and Molecular Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Japan
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19
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Ukadike KC, Mustelin T. Implications of Endogenous Retroelements in the Etiopathogenesis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. J Clin Med 2021; 10:856. [PMID: 33669709 PMCID: PMC7922054 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10040856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disease. While its etiology remains elusive, current understanding suggests a multifactorial process with contributions by genetic, immunologic, hormonal, and environmental factors. A hypothesis that combines several of these factors proposes that genomic elements, the L1 retrotransposons, are instrumental in SLE pathogenesis. L1 retroelements are transcriptionally activated in SLE and produce two proteins, ORF1p and ORF2p, which are immunogenic and can drive type I interferon (IFN) production by producing DNA species that activate cytosolic DNA sensors. In addition, these two proteins reside in RNA-rich macromolecular assemblies that also contain well-known SLE autoantigens like Ro60. We surmise that cells expressing L1 will exhibit all the hallmarks of cells infected by a virus, resulting in a cellular and humoral immune response similar to those in chronic viral infections. However, unlike exogenous viruses, L1 retroelements cannot be eliminated from the host genome. Hence, dysregulated L1 will cause a chronic, but perhaps episodic, challenge for the immune system. The clinical and immunological features of SLE can be at least partly explained by this model. Here we review the support for, and the gaps in, this hypothesis of SLE and its potential for new diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic options in SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tomas Mustelin
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, 750 Republican Street, Seattle, WA 98109, USA;
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Panova V, Attig J, Young GR, Stoye JP, Kassiotis G. Antibody-induced internalisation of retroviral envelope glycoproteins is a signal initiation event. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008605. [PMID: 32453763 PMCID: PMC7274472 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
As obligate parasites, viruses highjack, modify and repurpose the cellular machinery for their own replication. Viral proteins have, therefore, evolved biological functions, such as signalling potential, that alter host cell physiology in ways that are still incompletely understood. Retroviral envelope glycoproteins interact with several host proteins, extracellularly with their cellular receptor and anti-envelope antibodies, and intracellularly with proteins of the cytoskeleton or sorting, endocytosis and recirculation pathways. Here, we examined the impact of endogenous retroviral envelope glycoprotein expression and interaction with host proteins, particularly antibodies, on the cell, independently of retroviral infection. We found that in the commonly used C57BL/6 substrains of mice, where murine leukaemia virus (MLV) envelope glycoproteins are expressed by several endogenous MLV proviruses, the highest expressed MLV envelope glycoprotein is under the control of an immune-responsive cellular promoter, thus linking MLV envelope glycoprotein expression with immune activation. We further showed that antibody ligation induces extensive internalisation from the plasma membrane into endocytic compartments of MLV envelope glycoproteins, which are not normally subject to constitutive endocytosis. Importantly, antibody binding and internalisation of MLV envelope glycoproteins initiates signalling cascades in envelope-expressing murine lymphocytic cell lines, leading to cellular activation. Similar effects were observed by MLV envelope glycoprotein ligation by its cellular receptor mCAT-1, and by overexpression in human lymphocytic cells, where it required an intact tyrosine-based YXXΦ motif in the envelope glycoprotein cytoplasmic tail. Together, these results suggest that signalling potential is a general property of retroviral envelope glycoproteins and, therefore, a target for intervention. The outcome of viral infection depends on the balance between host immunity and the ability of the virus to avoid, evade or subvert it. The envelope glycoproteins of diverse viruses, including retroviruses, are displayed on the surface of virions and of infected cells and thus constitute the major target of the host antibody response. Antibody responses are elicited not only against infectious viruses we acquire during our life-history, but also against the numerous retroviral envelopes encoded by our genome and acquired during our species’ life-history. In turn, viruses have evolved ways to reduce exposure of their envelope glycoproteins to the host immune system, including constitutive endocytosis or antibody-induced internalisation. Using murine leukaemia viruses as models of infectious and endogenous retroviruses, we show that antibody binding to retroviral envelopes induces extensive internalisation of the envelope-antibody complex and initiates signalling cascades, ultimately leading to transcriptional activation of envelope glycoprotein-expressing lymphocytes. We further show that expression of endogenous retroviral envelopes is coupled to physiological lymphocyte activation, integrating them with the immune response. These findings reveal an unexpected layer of interaction between the host antibody response and retroviral envelope glycoproteins, which could be considered immune receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veera Panova
- Retroviral Immunology, The Francis Crick Institute, United Kingdom
| | - Jan Attig
- Retroviral Immunology, The Francis Crick Institute, United Kingdom
| | - George R. Young
- Retrovirus-Host Interactions, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan P. Stoye
- Retrovirus-Host Interactions, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - George Kassiotis
- Retroviral Immunology, The Francis Crick Institute, United Kingdom
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Talotta R, Atzeni F, Laska MJ. The contribution of HERV-E clone 4-1 and other HERV-E members to the pathogenesis of rheumatic autoimmune diseases. APMIS 2020; 128:367-377. [PMID: 32202683 DOI: 10.1111/apm.13039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERV)-E consist of a family of more than 1300 elements, stably integrated in the human genome. Some of them are full-length proviruses able to synthesize the viral proteins gag, pol and env. The reactivation of HERV-E elements has been associated to placentation, cancer and autoimmunity. In this narrative review, we aimed to report the status of the art concerning the involvement of HERV-E in rheumatic autoimmune diseases. Following a research on PubMed database, a total of 87 articles were selected. The highest amount of evidence derives from studies on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), whereas a few to no data are available on other immune-mediated diseases. In SLE, the hyper-expression of HERV-E clone 4-1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells or differentiated lymphocytes has been associated with disease activity and autoantibody production. It is likely that HERV-E take part to the pathogenesis of rheumatic autoimmune diseases but additional research is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Talotta
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Rheumatology Unit, University of Messina, Azienda Ospedaliera "Gaetano Martino", Messina, Italy
| | - Fabiola Atzeni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Rheumatology Unit, University of Messina, Azienda Ospedaliera "Gaetano Martino", Messina, Italy
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Talotta R, Atzeni F, Laska MJ. Retroviruses in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus: Are they potential therapeutic targets? Autoimmunity 2020; 53:177-191. [PMID: 32321325 DOI: 10.1080/08916934.2020.1755962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterised by the hyper-activation of immunologic pathways related to the antiviral response. Exogenous and endogenous retroviruses, by integrating their DNA templates in the host cell genome, may epigenetically control the transcription of genes involved in the immune response. Furthermore, their nucleic acids or neo-synthesized proteins could stimulate the sensor molecules placed upstream the inflammatory cascade. Exogenous retroviruses, like human immunodeficiency virus, have been associated to SLE-like manifestations or to a fair SLE diagnosis. In addition, there is some evidence confirming a pathogenic role of human endogenous retroviruses in SLE. In line with these data, the use of antiretroviral agents could represent an attractive opportunity in the future therapeutic algorithms of this disease, but studies are still missing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Talotta
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital "Gaetano Martino", Messina, Italy
| | - Fabiola Atzeni
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital "Gaetano Martino", Messina, Italy
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Carter V, LaCava J, Taylor MS, Liang SY, Mustelin C, Ukadike KC, Bengtsson A, Lood C, Mustelin T. High Prevalence and Disease Correlation of Autoantibodies Against p40 Encoded by Long Interspersed Nuclear Elements in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Arthritis Rheumatol 2020; 72:89-99. [PMID: 31342656 DOI: 10.1002/art.41054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Long interspersed nuclear element 1 (LINE-1) encodes 2 proteins, the RNA binding protein p40 and endonuclease and reverse transcriptase (open-reading frame 2p [ORF2p]), which are both required for LINE-1 to retrotranspose. In cells expressing LINE-1, these proteins assemble with LINE-1 RNA and additional RNA binding proteins, some of which are well-known autoantigens in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study was undertaken to investigate whether SLE patients also produce autoantibodies against LINE-1 p40. METHODS Highly purified p40 protein was used to quantitate IgG autoantibodies in serum from 172 SLE patients and from disease controls and age-matched healthy subjects by immunoblotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Preparations of p40 that also contained associated proteins were analyzed by immunoblotting with patient sera. RESULTS Antibodies reactive with p40 were detected in the majority of patients and many healthy controls. Their levels were higher in patients with SLE, but not those with systemic sclerosis, compared to healthy subjects (P = 0.01). Anti-p40 reactivity was higher in patients during a flare than in patients with disease in remission (P = 0.03); correlated with the SLE Disease Activity Index score (P = 0.0002), type I interferon score (P = 0.006), decrease in complement C3 level (P = 0.0001), the presence of anti-DNA antibodies (P < 0.0001) and anti-C1q antibodies (P = 0.004), and current or past history of nephritis (P = 0.02 and P = 0.003, respectively); and correlated inversely with age (r = -0.49, P < 0.0001). SLE patient sera also reacted with p40-associated proteins. CONCLUSION Autoantibodies reacting with LINE-1 p40 characterize a population of SLE patients with severe and active disease. These autoantibodies may represent an early immune response against LINE-1 p40 that does not yet by itself imply clinically significant autoimmunity, but may represent an early, and still reversible, step toward SLE pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John LaCava
- The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, and European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Martin S Taylor
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, and Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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Tavakolian S, Goudarzi H, Lak E, Faghihloo E. The evaluation of HERV-K env, np9, rec, gag expression in normal, polyp and cancerous tissues of gastric and colon. Future Virol 2019. [DOI: 10.2217/fvl-2019-0114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Aim: Gastrointestinal cancer is one of the most alarming cancers worldwide. Infections exert an impact on tumor progression in gastrointestinal tissues. The alteration in the expression of human endogenous retrovirus-K ( HERV-K) genes could remarkably induce oncogenic activity. Materials & methods: In 22 gastric and 23 colon cancer patients, the expression level of HERV-K env, rec, gag and np9 were evaluated. Results: While there was a slight increase in the expression of HERV-K env in colon cancer tissues, the expression level of this gene decreased in gastric tissues. Moreover, the expression of both np9 and gag HERV-K were upregulated only in colon cancer. Nevertheless, rec HERV-K was downregulated in gastric cancer tissues. Conclusion: HERV-K-associated genes can be used as a possible biomarker for cancers diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaian Tavakolian
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Goudarzi
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elena Lak
- Department of gastric & liver, Emam Hossein hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ebrahim Faghihloo
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Voelkner N. Riding the Shi: From Infection Barriers to the Microbial City. INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL SOCIOLOGY : IPS 2019; 13:375-391. [PMID: 34191935 PMCID: PMC7149467 DOI: 10.1093/ips/olz016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
How can a microbial approach to global health security protect life? Contemporary infection control mechanisms set the human and the pathogenic microbe against each other, as the victim versus the menace. This biomedical polarization persistently runs through the contemporary dominant mode of thinking about public health and infectious disease governance. Taking its cue from the currently accepted germ theory of disease, such mechanisms render a global city like Hong Kong not only pervasively "on alert" and under threat of unpredictable and pathogenic viruses and other microbes, it also gives rise to a hygiene and antimicrobial politics that is never entirely able to control pathogenic circulation. The article draws on recent advances in medical microbiology, which depart from germ theory, to invoke an ecological understanding of the human-microbe relation. Here, while a small number of viruses are pathogenic, the majority are benign; some are even essential to human life. Disease is not just the outcome of a pathogenic microbe infecting a human host but emerges from socioeconomic relations, which exacerbate human-animal-microbial interactions. In a final step, the article draws on Daoist thought to reflect on the ways that such a microbial understanding translates into life and city dwelling.
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26
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Tavakolian S, Goudarzi H, Faghihloo E. Evaluating the expression level of HERV-K env, np9, rec and gag in breast tissue. Infect Agent Cancer 2019; 14:42. [PMID: 31798679 PMCID: PMC6884765 DOI: 10.1186/s13027-019-0260-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Breast cancer is one of the most common health problems. It has been suggested that several risk factors, either considered as external or internal, play a critical role in the pathogenesis of breast cancer, which among them, HERV-k, has the most fundamental role. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the role of HERV-k env, gag, rec, np9 expressions in breast cancer progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS We collected 40 breast cancer tissues and their normal adjacent ones. After extracting the RNA of breast samples, we evaluated the expression of HERV-k env, gag, rec, np9 by using Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). RESULTS The resulting data revealed that while there was a meaningful increase in the expression level of HERV-k env, gag and np9 in breast cancer tissues (P ≤ 0.01, 0.05, 0.05, respectively), we failed to find any significant elevation in the expression level of rec mRNA level. CONCLUSION The results of our study suggested that there is a plausible correlation between the mRNA expression level of HERV-K env, gag and np9 and the progression of breast cancer, proposing these markers as promising biomarkers to diagnose breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaian Tavakolian
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Goudarzi
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ebrahim Faghihloo
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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27
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Rodrigues LS, da Silva Nali LH, Leal COD, Sabino EC, Lacerda EM, Kingdon CC, Nacul L, Romano CM. HERV-K and HERV-W transcriptional activity in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. AUTOIMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS 2019; 10:12. [PMID: 32257068 PMCID: PMC7065355 DOI: 10.1186/s13317-019-0122-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Background Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/MS) is an incapacitating chronic disease that dramatically compromise the life quality. The CFS/ME pathogenesis is multifactorial, and it is believed that immunological, metabolic and environmental factors play a role. It is well documented an increased activity of Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) from different families in autoimmune and neurological diseases, making these elements good candidates for biomarkers or even triggers for such diseases. Methods Here the expression of Endogenous retroviruses K and W (HERV-K and HERV-W) was determined in blood from moderately and severely affected ME/CFS patients through real time PCR. Results HERV-K was overexpressed only in moderately affected individuals but HERV-W showed no difference. Conclusions This is the first report about HERV-K differential expression in moderate ME/CFS. Although the relationship between HERVs and ME/CFS has yet to be proven, the observation of this phenomenon deserves further attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas S Rodrigues
- 1Laboratório de Virologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 470, São Paulo, SP 05403-000 Brazil
| | - Luiz H da Silva Nali
- 1Laboratório de Virologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 470, São Paulo, SP 05403-000 Brazil.,2Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Santo Amaro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cibele O D Leal
- 1Laboratório de Virologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 470, São Paulo, SP 05403-000 Brazil
| | - Ester C Sabino
- 1Laboratório de Virologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 470, São Paulo, SP 05403-000 Brazil.,3Departamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eliana M Lacerda
- 4Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Caroline C Kingdon
- 4Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Luis Nacul
- 4Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Camila M Romano
- 1Laboratório de Virologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 470, São Paulo, SP 05403-000 Brazil.,5Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP (LIM52), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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28
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Katsura Y, Asai S. Evolutionary Medicine of Retroviruses in the Human Genome. Am J Med Sci 2019; 358:384-388. [PMID: 31813465 PMCID: PMC7093845 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjms.2019.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Humans are infected with many viruses, and the immune system mostly removes viruses and the infected cells. However, certain viruses have entered the human genome. Of the human genome, ∼45% is composed of transposable elements (long interspersed nuclear elements [LINEs], short interspersed nuclear elements [SINEs] and transposons) and 5-8% is derived from viral sequences with similarity to infectious retroviruses. If integration of retrovirus occurs in a germline, the integrated viral sequences are heritable. Accumulation of viral sequences has created the current human genome. This article summarizes recent studies of retroviruses in humans and bridges clinical fields and evolutionary genetics. First, we report the repertories of human-infective retroviruses. Second, we review endogenous retroviruses in the human genome and diseases associated with endogenous retroviruses. Third, we discuss the biological functions of endogenous retroviruses and propose the concept of accelerated human evolution via viruses. Finally, we present perspectives of virology in the field of evolutionary medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukako Katsura
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Satoshi Asai
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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29
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Kolahdouzan M, Futhey NC, Kieran NW, Healy LM. Novel Molecular Leads for the Prevention of Damage and the Promotion of Repair in Neuroimmunological Disease. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1657. [PMID: 31379852 PMCID: PMC6658885 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is a prominent pathological feature of all neuroimmunological diseases, including, but not limited to, multiple sclerosis (MS), myasthenia gravis, neuromyelitis optica, and Guillain–Barré syndrome. All currently-approved therapies for the treatment of these diseases focus on controlling or modulating the immune (innate and adaptive) responses to limit demyelination and neuronal damage. The primary purpose of this review is to detail the pre-clinical data and proposed mechanism of action of novel drugs currently in clinical trial, with a focus on novel compounds that promote repair and regeneration in the central nervous system (CNS). As the most recent advances have been made in the field of MS research, this review will focus primarily on this disease and its animal models. However, these compounds are likely to be effective for a range of indications with a neuroinflammatory component. Traditionally, MS was thought to proceed through two distinct phases. The first, predominantly inflammatory stage, is characterized by acute episodes of clinical relapse, followed by periods of partial or total recovery with an apparent absence of overall disease progression. In the vast majority of patients, this relapsing-remitting disease subsequently progresses into a second more chronic, neurodegenerative phase, which is characterized by oligodendrocyte damage and axonal destruction leading to brain atrophy and an accumulation of disability. Recent work has shown that rather than occurring independently, both the inflammatory and degenerative phases may run concurrently. This, combined with evidence that early therapeutic intervention slows accumulation of disability and delays progression, highlights the need for novel therapeutic approaches that promote repair and regeneration early in the disease trajectory. Such compounds may be used as monotherapies or in conjunction with classical anti-inflammatory therapies. This review will highlight novel therapies currently in clinical trial, and likely to appear in clinical practice in the near future, focusing on compounds that target the immune system and/or enhance endogenous repair mechanisms in the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahshad Kolahdouzan
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Naomi C Futhey
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Nicholas W Kieran
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Luke M Healy
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
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Pan Q, Liu Z, Liao S, Ye L, Lu X, Chen X, Li Z, Li X, Xu YZ, Liu H. Current mechanistic insights into the role of infection in systemic lupus erythematosus. Biomed Pharmacother 2019; 117:109122. [PMID: 31226637 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2019.109122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation and abnormal production of autoantibody, but the mechanisms of the aberrant immune responses are currently unknown. Recently, growing evidence has suggested that infection plays a pivotal role in SLE. Here, we investigate the role of infectious agents (e.g., Epstein-Barr virus, parvovirus B19, human T-lymphotropic virus type 1, human immunodeficiency virus type 1, and endogenous retroviruses) in the pathogenesis of SLE. More importantly, we explore the known mechanisms underlying the involvement of infectious agents in the pathogenesis of SLE, including molecular mimicry, epitope spreading, superantigen production, bystander activation, persistent viral infection, altered apoptosis, clearance deficiency, and epigenetic alterations (e.g., DNA methylation and microRNAs). However, some infectious agents (e.g., malaria parasites, hepatitis B virus, Toxoplasma gondii, and Helicobacter pylori) may exert protective effects on SLE. Therefore, the relationship between infection and SLE is multifaceted and multidirectional, including causative and/or protective associations, which warrant further investigation in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingjun Pan
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang City, Institute of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524001, China.
| | - Zejian Liu
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang City, Institute of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524001, China
| | - Shuzhen Liao
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang City, Institute of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524001, China
| | - Lin Ye
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang City, Institute of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524001, China
| | - Xing Lu
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang City, Institute of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524001, China
| | - Xiaoqun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang City, Institute of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524001, China
| | - Zhihang Li
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang City, Institute of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524001, China
| | - Xinxin Li
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang City, Institute of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524001, China
| | - Yong-Zhi Xu
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang City, Institute of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524001, China
| | - Huafeng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang City, Institute of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524001, China.
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Li W, Lin L, Malhotra R, Yang L, Acharya R, Poss M. A computational framework to assess genome-wide distribution of polymorphic human endogenous retrovirus-K In human populations. PLoS Comput Biol 2019; 15:e1006564. [PMID: 30921327 PMCID: PMC6456218 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Human Endogenous Retrovirus type K (HERV-K) is the only HERV known to be insertionally polymorphic; not all individuals have a retrovirus at a specific genomic location. It is possible that HERV-Ks contribute to human disease because people differ in both number and genomic location of these retroviruses. Indeed viral transcripts, proteins, and antibody against HERV-K are detected in cancers, auto-immune, and neurodegenerative diseases. However, attempts to link a polymorphic HERV-K with any disease have been frustrated in part because population prevalence of HERV-K provirus at each polymorphic site is lacking and it is challenging to identify closely related elements such as HERV-K from short read sequence data. We present an integrated and computationally robust approach that uses whole genome short read data to determine the occupation status at all sites reported to contain a HERV-K provirus. Our method estimates the proportion of fixed length genomic sequence (k-mers) from whole genome sequence data matching a reference set of k-mers unique to each HERV-K locus and applies mixture model-based clustering of these values to account for low depth sequence data. Our analysis of 1000 Genomes Project Data (KGP) reveals numerous differences among the five KGP super-populations in the prevalence of individual and co-occurring HERV-K proviruses; we provide a visualization tool to easily depict the proportion of the KGP populations with any combination of polymorphic HERV-K provirus. Further, because HERV-K is insertionally polymorphic, the genome burden of known polymorphic HERV-K is variable in humans; this burden is lowest in East Asian (EAS) individuals. Our study identifies population-specific sequence variation for HERV-K proviruses at several loci. We expect these resources will advance research on HERV-K contributions to human diseases. Human Endogenous Retrovirus type K (HERV-K) is the youngest of retrovirus families in the human genome and is the only group of endogenous retroviruses that has polymorphic members; a locus containing a HERV-K can be occupied in one individual but empty in others. HERV-Ks could contribute to disease risk or pathogenesis but linking one of the known polymorphic HERV-K to a specific disease has been difficult. We develop an easy to use method that reveals the considerable variation existing among global populations in the prevalence of individual and co-occurring polymorphic HERV-K, and in the number of HERV-K that any individual has in their genome. Our study provides a reference of diversity for the currently known polymorphic HERV-K in global populations and tools needed to determine the profile of all known polymorphic HERV-K in the genome of any patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiling Li
- The School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States of America
| | - Lin Lin
- Department of Statistics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States of America
| | - Raunaq Malhotra
- The School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States of America
| | - Lei Yang
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States of America
| | - Raj Acharya
- The School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States of America
- School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States of America
| | - Mary Poss
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States of America
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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32
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Chen J, Foroozesh M, Qin Z. Transactivation of human endogenous retroviruses by tumor viruses and their functions in virus-associated malignancies. Oncogenesis 2019; 8:6. [PMID: 30643113 PMCID: PMC6331641 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-018-0114-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), viral-associated sequences, are normal components of the human genome and account for 8–9% of our genome. These original provirus sequences can be transactivated to produce functional products. Several reactivated HERVs have been implicated in cancers and autoimmune diseases. An emerging body of literature supports a potential role of reactivated HERVs in viral diseases, in particular viral-associated neoplasms. Demystifying studies on the mechanism(s) of HERV reactivation could provide a new framework for the development of treatment and prevention strategies targeting virus-associated tumors. Although available data suggest that co-infection by other viruses, such as Kaposi’s Sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), may be a crucial driving force to transactivate HERV boom, the mechanisms of action of viral infection-induced HERV transactivation and the contributions of HERVs to viral oncogenesis warrant further studies. Here, we review viral co-infection contributes to HERVs transactivation with focus on human viral infection associated oncogenesis and diseases, including the abilities of viral regulators involved in HERV reactivation, and physiological effects of viral infection response on HERV reactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jungang Chen
- Department of Pathology, Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W Markham St, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Maryam Foroozesh
- Department of Chemistry, Xavier University of Louisiana, 1 Drexel Drive, New Orleans, LA, 70125, USA
| | - Zhiqiang Qin
- Department of Pathology, Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W Markham St, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 200120, Shanghai, China. .,Research Center for Translational Medicine and Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 200120, Shanghai, China.
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Bragazzi NL, Bridgewood C, Sharif K, Kamal M, Amital H, Watad A, Shoenfeld Y. HPV vaccines and lupus: current approaches towards preventing adverse immune cross-reactivity. Expert Rev Vaccines 2018; 18:31-42. [PMID: 30526148 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2019.1557519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION If not properly treated, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection may evolve from a common sexually transmitted disease to genital warts and cervical cancer. Various prophylactic HPV vaccines (HPVv), approved to reduce the incidence of the infection, have been found to be effective and safe; however, accounts of post-vaccination autoimmune phenomena, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), have been reported in genetically susceptible individuals. AREAS COVERED Infectious agents play a role in breaking the immunologic tolerance to self-antigens, resulting in autoimmune events. There is molecular evidence supporting the involvement of HPV in SLE, with a high prevalence of L1 HPV peptide homology to proteins being associated with SLE. Therefore, approaches in vaccine preparations aiming to prevent adverse immune cross-reactivity are sought. Performing a broad search of the literature, we review the association between SLE, HPV, and HPVv, with a focus on the mechanisms of molecular mimicry and cross-reactivity, and the approaches currently being elaborated towards preventing such phenomena. EXPERT COMMENTARY The advantages of using low-similarity peptide antigens may be two-fold, abolishing the risk of cross-reactivity and eliminating the vaccine adjuvantation procedure. Vaccines based on pathogen unique sequences would provide effective vaccine preparation while curbing the risk for the human host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola L Bragazzi
- a Postgraduate School of Public Health, Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL) , University of Genoa , Genoa , Italy
| | - Charlie Bridgewood
- b Section of Musculoskeletal Disease, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine , University of Leeds, NIHR Leeds Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit, Chapel Allerton Hospital , Leeds , UK
| | - Kassem Sharif
- c Department of Medicine B and Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Ramat-Gan, Sackler Faculty of Medicine , Tel-Aviv University , Tel-Aviv , Israel
| | - Mohamad Kamal
- c Department of Medicine B and Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Ramat-Gan, Sackler Faculty of Medicine , Tel-Aviv University , Tel-Aviv , Israel
| | - Howard Amital
- c Department of Medicine B and Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Ramat-Gan, Sackler Faculty of Medicine , Tel-Aviv University , Tel-Aviv , Israel
| | - Abdulla Watad
- b Section of Musculoskeletal Disease, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine , University of Leeds, NIHR Leeds Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit, Chapel Allerton Hospital , Leeds , UK.,c Department of Medicine B and Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Ramat-Gan, Sackler Faculty of Medicine , Tel-Aviv University , Tel-Aviv , Israel
| | - Yehuda Shoenfeld
- c Department of Medicine B and Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Ramat-Gan, Sackler Faculty of Medicine , Tel-Aviv University , Tel-Aviv , Israel
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Klag T, Courth L, Ostaff MJ, Ott G, Stange EF, Malek NP, Seifarth W, Wehkamp J. Human Endogenous Retroviruses: Residues of Ancient Times Are Differentially Expressed in Crohn's Disease. Inflamm Intest Dis 2018; 3:125-137. [PMID: 30820434 DOI: 10.1159/000494026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 09/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Eight percent of the human genome consists of human endogenous retroviruses (HERV). These genetic elements are remnants of ancient retroviral germ-line infections. Altered HERV expression is associated with several chronic inflammatory diseases. A physiological role of the HERV-derived proteins syncytin-1 and -2 has been described for the integrity of the human placental cell layer in terms of maintaining feto-maternal tolerance. The aim of this project was to investigate HERV expression in Crohn's disease (CD) with a further focus on syncytins in the gut. Material and Methods Seventy-four ileal and colonic tissue samples of CD patients and healthy controls have been investigated for mRNA expression of major HERV groups by a comprehensive microarray screening. The most prominent differences have been validated by qRT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry (IHC), Western Blot (WB) and qRT-PCR were performed for syncytin-1 and -2. Results HERV microarray screening revealed a distinct expression profile in ileal and colonic tissue, as well as differential expression in CD compared to healthy controls. qRT-PCR validated differential expression of at least 3 HERV-groups in CD. qRT-PCR, IHC and WB showed a tissue-dependent diminished epithelial expression of syncytins in inflamed CD. Conclusion For the first time, HERV expression has been comprehensively studied in the gut. Between CD and healthy controls we could show a tissue dependent differential HERV expression profile. Notably, we could show that syncytin-1 and -2 are expressed in the epithelial layer in ileal and colonic tissue samples, whereas their diminished tissue-dependent expression in inflamed CD might modulate inflammatory processes at the gut barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Klag
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Lioba Courth
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Maureen J Ostaff
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - German Ott
- Department of Pathology, Robert-Bosch-Hospital, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Eduard F Stange
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Nisar P Malek
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Seifarth
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Heidelberg, University Hospital Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Jan Wehkamp
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Klein K. Bromodomain protein inhibition: a novel therapeutic strategy in rheumatic diseases. RMD Open 2018; 4:e000744. [PMID: 30564450 PMCID: PMC6269638 DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2018-000744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Revised: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The reading of acetylation marks on histones by bromodomain (BRD) proteins is a key event in transcriptional activation. Small molecule inhibitors targeting bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) proteins compete for binding to acetylated histones. They have strong anti-inflammatory properties and exhibit encouraging effects in different cell types in vitro and in animal models resembling rheumatic diseases in vivo. Furthermore, recent studies that focus on BRD proteins beyond BET family members are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Klein
- Center of Experimental Rheumatology, Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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36
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Bergallo M, Daprà V, Ponti R, Quaglino P, Novelli M, Fava P, Montanari P, Calvi C, Galliano I, Fierro M. HERV-E expression in peripheral mononuclear cells of patients with psoriasis. Ital J Dermatol Venerol 2018; 156:42-45. [PMID: 30251805 DOI: 10.23736/s2784-8671.18.06133-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psoriasis is a common inflammatory skin disease characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of keratinocytes and recruitment of T lymphocytes into the skin. Possible triggers for psoriasis have been attributed to drugs or pathogens such as bacteria and possibly virus. Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) might play a role in triggering these antiviral immune responses, since the role of HERVs in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases has generated considerable interest. Some studies have also reported an association of HERV-E and psoriasis. None of them investigate the HERV-E expression in peripheral blood of psoriasis. All these considerations have prompted us to perform a survey for HERV-E expression in PBMC from psoriatic patients. METHODS Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 69 psoriatic patients were analyzed. Total RNA was extracted and amplified with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results were compared with those obtained in a cohort of 20 healthy donors. RESULTS HERV E was expressed in all samples analyzed but the level of expression was much lower in the psoriasis that in HC P<0.0001. CONCLUSIONS The reasons for the unexpected, low levels of HERV expression in psoriatic patients are unclear and might be in part a consequence of antiviral defense mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Bergallo
- Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Medical School, Turin, Italy -
| | - Valentina Daprà
- Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Medical School, Turin, Italy
| | - Renata Ponti
- Section of Dermatology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Pietro Quaglino
- Section of Dermatology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Mauro Novelli
- Section of Dermatology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Paolo Fava
- Section of Dermatology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Paola Montanari
- Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Medical School, Turin, Italy
| | - Cristina Calvi
- Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Medical School, Turin, Italy
| | - Ilaria Galliano
- Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Medical School, Turin, Italy
| | - Mariateresa Fierro
- Section of Dermatology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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37
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Curtin F, Bernard C, Levet S, Perron H, Porchet H, Médina J, Malpass S, Lloyd D, Simpson R. A new therapeutic approach for type 1 diabetes: Rationale for GNbAC1, an anti-HERV-W-Env monoclonal antibody. Diabetes Obes Metab 2018; 20:2075-2084. [PMID: 29749030 DOI: 10.1111/dom.13357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
We describe a newly identified therapeutic target for type 1 diabetes (T1D): an envelope protein of endogenous retroviral origin, human endogenous retrovirus W envelope (HERV-W-Env). HERV-W-Env was found to be detected in the blood of ~60% of patients with T1D and is expressed in acinar pancreatic cells of 75% of patients with T1D at post mortem examination. Preclinical experiments showed that this protein displays direct cytotoxicity on human β-islet cells. In vivo HERV-W-Env impairs the insulin and glucose metabolism in transgenic mice expressing HERV-W-Env. GNbAC1, an IgG4 monoclonal antibody, has been developed to specifically target HERV-W-Env and to neutralize the effect of HERV-W-Env in vitro and in vivo. GNbAC1 is currently in clinical development for multiple sclerosis and > 300 subjects have been administered with GNbAC1 so far. GNbAC1 is now being tested in T1D in the RAINBOW-T1D study, which is a randomized placebo-controlled study with the objective of showing the safety and pharmacodynamic response of GNbAC1 in patients who have had T1D with a maximum of 4 years' duration. GNbAC1 is being tested vs placebo at the dose of 6 mg/kg in 60 patients during six repeated administrations for 6 months; a 6-month open-label extension will follow. The primary endpoint is to assess safety, and secondary endpoints are the pharmacodynamic responses to GNbAC1. GNbAC1 targeting HERV-W-Env is currently in clinical development in T1D, with the first safety and pharmacodynamic study. If the study results are positive, this may open the door to the development of an innovative non-immunomodulatory disease-modifying treatment for T1D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francois Curtin
- GeNeuro SA, Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Hervé Perron
- GeNeuro SA, Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland
- Geneuro-Innovation, Lyon, France
- Laboratory of Immune Deficiencies, Faculty of Medicine Laënnec, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Hervé Porchet
- GeNeuro SA, Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | - Sam Malpass
- Southern Star Research Pty Ltd, Gordon, Australia
| | - David Lloyd
- Southern Star Research Pty Ltd, Gordon, Australia
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Gröger V, Cynis H. Human Endogenous Retroviruses and Their Putative Role in the Development of Autoimmune Disorders Such as Multiple Sclerosis. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:265. [PMID: 29515547 PMCID: PMC5826199 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are remnants of retroviral germ line infections of human ancestors and make up ~8% of the human genome. Under physiological conditions, these elements are frequently inactive or non-functional due to deactivating mutations and epigenetic control. However, they can be reactivated under certain pathological conditions and produce viral transcripts and proteins. Several disorders, like multiple sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are associated with increased HERV expression. Although their detailed contribution to individual diseases has yet to be elucidated, an increasing number of studies in vitro and in vivo suggest HERVs as potent modulators of the immune system. They are able to affect the transcription of other immune-related genes, interact with pattern recognition receptors, and influence the positive and negative selection of developing thymocytes. Interestingly, HERV envelope proteins can both stimulate and suppress immune responses based on different mechanisms. In the light of HERV proteins becoming an emerging drug target for autoimmune-related disorders and cancer, we will provide an overview on recent findings of the complex interactions between HERVs and the human immune system with a focus on autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Holger Cynis
- Department of Drug Design and Target Validation, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Halle, Germany
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39
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Bo M, Niegowska M, Erre GL, Piras M, Longu MG, Manchia P, Manca M, Passiu G, Sechi LA. Rheumatoid arthritis patient antibodies highly recognize IL-2 in the immune response pathway involving IRF5 and EBV antigens. Sci Rep 2018; 8:1789. [PMID: 29379122 PMCID: PMC5789096 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-19957-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by a progressive joint damage due to largely unknown environmental factors acting in concert with risk alleles conferring genetic susceptibility. A major role has been attributed to viral infections that include past contacts with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and, more recently, to non-protein coding sequences of human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K) integrated in the human genome. Molecular mimicry between viral and self proteins is supposed to cause the loss of immune tolerance in predisposed hosts. There are evidences that anti-IL-2 antibodies (Abs) are present in subjects affected by autoimmune diseases and may be responsible for alterations in regulatory T cell responses. In this study, we evaluated the levels of Abs against IL-2, viral epitopes and interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) in 140 RA patients and 137 healthy controls (HCs). Ab reactivity reached the highest levels for IRF5, EBV and IL-2 (56%, 44% and 39%, respectively) in RA with significantly lower values among HCs (7-9%, p < 0.0001), which suggests a possible cross-reaction between IRF5/EBV homologous antigens and shifts in T cell balance disrupted by anti-IL-2 Abs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Bo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43b, 07100, Sassari, Italy
| | - Magdalena Niegowska
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43b, 07100, Sassari, Italy
| | - Gian Luca Erre
- UOC Reumatologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Azienda-Ospedaliero Universitaria di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Marco Piras
- UOC Reumatologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Azienda-Ospedaliero Universitaria di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Maria Giovanna Longu
- UOC Reumatologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Azienda-Ospedaliero Universitaria di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | | | - Mario Manca
- Centro Trasfusionale, ASL Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Passiu
- UOC Reumatologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Azienda-Ospedaliero Universitaria di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Leonardo A Sechi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43b, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
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40
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Abstract
Germinal centers (GCs) are dynamic microenvironments that form in the secondary lymphoid organs and generate somatically mutated high-affinity antibodies necessary to establish an effective humoral immune response. Tight regulation of GC responses is critical for maintaining self-tolerance. GCs can arise in the absence of purposeful immunization or overt infection (called spontaneous GCs, Spt-GCs). In autoimmune-prone mice and patients with autoimmune disease, aberrant regulation of Spt-GCs is thought to promote the development of somatically mutated pathogenic autoantibodies and the subsequent development of autoimmunity. The mechanisms that control the formation of Spt-GCs and promote systemic autoimmune diseases remain an open question and the focus of ongoing studies. Here, we discuss the most current studies on the role of Spt-GCs in autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip P Domeier
- a Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Penn State College of Medicine , USA
| | - Stephanie L Schell
- a Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Penn State College of Medicine , USA
| | - Ziaur S M Rahman
- a Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Penn State College of Medicine , USA
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41
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Madi N, Al-Nakib W, Mustafa AS, Habibi N. Metagenomic analysis of viral diversity in respiratory samples from patients with respiratory tract infections in Kuwait. J Med Virol 2017; 90:412-420. [PMID: 29083040 PMCID: PMC7167075 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.24984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2017] [Revised: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
A metagenomic approach based on target independent next‐generation sequencing has become a known method for the detection of both known and novel viruses in clinical samples. This study aimed to use the metagenomic sequencing approach to characterize the viral diversity in respiratory samples from patients with respiratory tract infections. We have investigated 86 respiratory samples received from various hospitals in Kuwait between 2015 and 2016 for the diagnosis of respiratory tract infections. A metagenomic approach using the next‐generation sequencer to characterize viruses was used. According to the metagenomic analysis, an average of 145, 019 reads were identified, and 2% of these reads were of viral origin. Also, metagenomic analysis of the viral sequences revealed many known respiratory viruses, which were detected in 30.2% of the clinical samples. Also, sequences of non‐respiratory viruses were detected in 14% of the clinical samples, while sequences of non‐human viruses were detected in 55.8% of the clinical samples. The average genome coverage of the viruses was 12% with the highest genome coverage of 99.2% for respiratory syncytial virus, and the lowest was 1% for torque teno midi virus 2. Our results showed 47.7% agreement between multiplex Real‐Time PCR and metagenomics sequencing in the detection of respiratory viruses in the clinical samples. Though there are some difficulties in using this method to clinical samples such as specimen quality, these observations are indicative of the promising utility of the metagenomic sequencing approach for the identification of respiratory viruses in patients with respiratory tract infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nada Madi
- Virology Unit, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
| | - Widad Al-Nakib
- Virology Unit, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
| | - Abu Salim Mustafa
- Virology Unit, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
| | - Nazima Habibi
- Research Core Facility and OMICS Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
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42
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Retroviral envelope proteins: Involvement in neuropathogenesis. J Neurol Sci 2017; 380:151-163. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2017.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Revised: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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43
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Hurst TP, Magiorkinis G. Epigenetic Control of Human Endogenous Retrovirus Expression: Focus on Regulation of Long-Terminal Repeats (LTRs). Viruses 2017; 9:v9060130. [PMID: 28561791 PMCID: PMC5490807 DOI: 10.3390/v9060130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Revised: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Transposable elements, including endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), comprise almost 45% of the human genome. This could represent a significant pathogenic burden but it is becoming more evident that many of these elements have a positive contribution to make to normal human physiology. In particular, the contributions of human ERVs (HERVs) to gene regulation and the expression of noncoding RNAs has been revealed with the help of new and emerging genomic technologies. HERVs have the common provirus structure of coding open reading frames (ORFs) flanked by two long-terminal repeats (LTRs). However, over the course of evolution and as a consequence of host defence mechanisms, most of the sequences contain INDELs, mutations or have been reduced to single LTRs by recombination. These INDELs and mutations reduce HERV activity. However, there is a trade-off for the host cells in that HERVs can provide beneficial sources of genetic variation but with this benefit comes the risk of pathogenic activity and spread within the genome. For example, the LTRs are of critical importance as they contain promoter sequences and can regulate not only HERV expression but that of human genes. This is true even when the LTRs are located in intergenic regions or are in antisense orientation to the rest of the gene. Uncontrolled, this promoter activity could disrupt normal gene expression or transcript processing (e.g., splicing). Thus, control of HERVs and particularly their LTRs is essential for the cell to manage these elements and this control is achieved at multiple levels, including epigenetic regulations that permit HERV expression in the germline but silence it in most somatic tissues. We will discuss some of the common epigenetic mechanisms and how they affect HERV expression, providing detailed discussions of HERVs in stem cell, placenta and cancer biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara P Hurst
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.
| | - Gkikas Magiorkinis
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.
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44
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Mameli G, Erre GL, Caggiu E, Mura S, Cossu D, Bo M, Cadoni ML, Piras A, Mundula N, Colombo E, Buscetta G, Passiu G, Sechi LA. Identification of a HERV-K env surface peptide highly recognized in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients: a cross-sectional case-control study. Clin Exp Immunol 2017; 189:127-131. [PMID: 28324619 DOI: 10.1111/cei.12964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Endogenous retroviruses (HERV) are believed to be pathogenic in several autoimmune diseases. Among them, HERV-K viruses have been reported recently to be involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study we have explored the role of humoral immune response against HERV-K as a potential pathogenetic mechanism in RA. Four different peptides from the extracellular portion of the env protein of HERV-K (env-su19-37 , env-su109-126 , env-su164-186 , env-su209-226 ) were selected by bioinformatic analysis on the basis of their putative immunogenicity. Indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was then carried out to quantify antibodies against those peptides on blood samples of 70 consecutive RA patients and 71 healthy controls (HC). Differences between the two groups were analysed using the Mann-Whitney test. Potential correlations between RA laboratory, clinical descriptors and immunoglobulin (Ig)G levels were explored by bivariate regression analysis. Serum autoantibodies against one of four tested peptides of HERV-K (env-su19-37 ) were significantly higher in RA than in HC (19 versus 3%, P = 0·0025). Subgroup analysis showed no association between anti-HERV-K peptide humoral response and clinical, serological and clinimetric RA disease descriptors. Serum from RA patients in our series reacted significantly against HERV-K env-su19-37 peptide in comparison to the general population suggesting a role for the HERV-K- related, secondary antigenic-driven immune response in the pathogenesis of RA. Further studies are needed to confirm these results and to explore the role of this HERV-K surface peptide as a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Mameli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Microbiologia Clinica e Sperimentale, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - G L Erre
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Cattedra e Unità di Reumatologia, Università e AOU di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - E Caggiu
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Microbiologia Clinica e Sperimentale, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - S Mura
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Cattedra e Unità di Reumatologia, Università e AOU di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - D Cossu
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Microbiologia Clinica e Sperimentale, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - M Bo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Microbiologia Clinica e Sperimentale, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - M L Cadoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Microbiologia Clinica e Sperimentale, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - A Piras
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Cattedra e Unità di Reumatologia, Università e AOU di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - N Mundula
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Cattedra e Unità di Reumatologia, Università e AOU di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - E Colombo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Cattedra e Unità di Reumatologia, Università e AOU di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - G Buscetta
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Cattedra e Unità di Reumatologia, Università e AOU di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - G Passiu
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Cattedra e Unità di Reumatologia, Università e AOU di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - L A Sechi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Microbiologia Clinica e Sperimentale, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
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45
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Jung JY, Suh CH. Infection in systemic lupus erythematosus, similarities, and differences with lupus flare. Korean J Intern Med 2017; 32:429-438. [PMID: 28490724 PMCID: PMC5432804 DOI: 10.3904/kjim.2016.234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with diverse manifestations, and its pathogenesis is unclear and complicated. Infection and SLE are similar in that they both cause inf lammatory reactions in the immune system; however, one functions to protect the body, whereas the other is activated to damage the body. Infection is known as one of the common trigger factors for SLE; there are a number of reports on infectious agents that provoke autoimmune response. Several viruses, bacteria, and protozoa were revealed to cause immune dysfunction by molecular mimicry, epitope spreading, and bystander activation. In contrast, certain pathogens were revealed to protect from immune dysregulation. Infection can be threatening to patients with SLE who have a compromised immune system, and it is regarded as one of the common causes of mortality in SLE. A clinical distinction between infection and lupus f lare up is required when patients with SLE present fevers. With a close-up assessment of symptoms and physical examination, C-reactive protein and disease activity markers play a major role in differentiating the different disease conditions. Vaccination is necessary because protection against infection is important in patients with SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chang-Hee Suh
- Correspondence to Chang-Hee Suh, M.D. Department of Rheumatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, 164 World cup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon 16499, Korea Tel: +82-31-219-5118 Fax: +82-31-219-5157 E-mail:
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Abstract
Infection is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with systemic lupus erythematous (SLE). Dysfunction of the innate and adaptive immune systems increases the risk of infection in patients with SLE. Infectious agents have also been theorized to play a role in the pathogenesis of SLE. This article summarizes our current knowledge of the infectious risk SLE patients face as a result of their underlying disease including abnormal phagocytes and T cells as well as the increased risk of infection associated with immunosuppressive agents used to treat disease. Pathogens thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of disease including EBV, CMV, human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), and tuberculosis will also be reviewed, as well as the pathologic potential of microbial amyloids and the microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Doaty
- Division of Rheumatology, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), 1000 Veteran Ave, Room 32-59, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA
| | - Harsh Agrawal
- Division of Cardiology, University of Missouri, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA
| | - Erin Bauer
- Division of Rheumatology, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), 1000 Veteran Ave, Room 32-59, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA
| | - Daniel E Furst
- Division of Rheumatology, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), 1000 Veteran Ave, Room 32-59, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA. .,University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. .,University of Florence, Piazza di San Marco, 4, 50121, Firenze, Italy.
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47
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Curtin F, Perron H, Faucard R, Porchet H, Lang AB. Treatment against human endogenous retrovirus: a possible personalized medicine approach for multiple sclerosis. Mol Diagn Ther 2016; 19:255-65. [PMID: 26376649 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-015-0166-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERV) represent about 8 % of the human genome. Some of these genetic elements are expressed in pathological circumstances. A HERV protein, the multiple sclerosis-associated retrovirus (MSRV) envelope protein (MSRV-Env), is expressed in the blood and active brain lesions of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. It possesses pro-inflammatory and myelinotoxic properties. The patterns of expression and pathogenic properties of MSRV-Env make it a relevant drug target for MS therapeutics-in particular for preventing neurodegeneration, a key component of progressive forms of MS. An immunoglobulin G4 monoclonal antibody (mAb), called GNbAC1, has been developed to neutralize this pathogenic target. After showing neutralizing effects in vitro and in mouse models of MS, GNbAC1 is now in phase II clinical development. MSRV-related biomarkers such as MSRV-Env and MSRV polymerase (MSRV-Pol) gene transcripts are overexpressed in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with MS. These biomarkers may have prognostic value for long-term MS evolution, and their transcription levels in blood decline during treatments with GNbAC1, which has also been reported in patients administered reference MS drugs such as natalizumab or interferon-β. GNbAC1 as a new MSRV-Env-antagonist mAb could be a specific and causal treatment for MS, with a particular application for progressive forms of the disease. For possible use in companion diagnostic tests, MSRV-associated biomarkers could open the door to a personalized therapeutic approach for MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Curtin
- GeNeuro SA, 18 Chemin des Aulx, Plan-les-Ouates, 1228, Geneva, Switzerland. .,Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Division, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Hervé Perron
- GeNeuro SA, 18 Chemin des Aulx, Plan-les-Ouates, 1228, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Raphael Faucard
- GeNeuro SA, 18 Chemin des Aulx, Plan-les-Ouates, 1228, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Hervé Porchet
- GeNeuro SA, 18 Chemin des Aulx, Plan-les-Ouates, 1228, Geneva, Switzerland.,Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Alois B Lang
- GeNeuro SA, 18 Chemin des Aulx, Plan-les-Ouates, 1228, Geneva, Switzerland
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Trela M, Nelson PN, Rylance PB. The role of molecular mimicry and other factors in the association of Human Endogenous Retroviruses and autoimmunity. APMIS 2016; 124:88-104. [PMID: 26818264 DOI: 10.1111/apm.12487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs) have been implicated in autoimmune and other diseases. Molecular mimicry has been postulated as a potential mechanism of autoimmunity. Exogenous viruses have also been reported to be associated with the same diseases, as have genetic and environmental factors. If molecular mimicry were to be shown to be an initiating mechanism of some autoimmune diseases, then therapeutic options of blocking antibodies and peptides might be of benefit in halting diseases at the outset. Bioinformatic and molecular modelling techniques have been employed to investigate molecular mimicry and the evidence for the association of HERVs and autoimmunity is reviewed. The most convincing evidence for molecular mimicry is in rheumatoid arthritis, where HERV K-10 shares amino acid sequences with IgG1Fc, a target for rheumatoid factor. Systemic lupus erythematosus is an example of a condition associated with several autoantibodies, and several endogenous and exogenous viruses have been reported to be associated with the disease. The lack of a clear link between one virus and this condition, and the spectrum of clinical manifestations, suggests that genetic, environmental and the inflammatory response to a virus or viruses might also be major factors in the pathogenesis of lupus and other autoimmune conditions. Where there are strong associations between a virus and an autoimmune condition, such as in hepatitis C and cryoglobulinaemia, the use of bioinformatics and molecular modelling can also be utilized to help to understand the role of molecular mimicry in how HERVs might trigger disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malgorzata Trela
- Immunology Research Group, Research Institute in Healthcare Sciences, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK
| | - Paul N Nelson
- Immunology Research Group, Research Institute in Healthcare Sciences, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK
| | - Paul B Rylance
- Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, UK
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49
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Christensen T. Human endogenous retroviruses in neurologic disease. APMIS 2016; 124:116-26. [DOI: 10.1111/apm.12486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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50
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Ouyang J, Hu J, Chen JL. lncRNAs regulate the innate immune response to viral infection. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2015; 7:129-43. [PMID: 26667656 PMCID: PMC7169827 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2015] [Revised: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 11/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are extensively expressed in mammalian cells and play a crucial role as RNA regulators in various cellular processes. Increasing data reveal that they function in innate antiviral immunity through complex mechanisms. Thousands of lncRNAs are regulated by RNA virus or DNA virus infection. The significant differential expression of lncRNAs is induced by virus or host antiviral signaling mediated by interferons (IFNs) and tumor necrosis factor‐α. In turn, these lncRNAs modulate the host immune response including the pathogen recognition receptor (PRR)‐related signaling, the translocation and activation of transcription factors, the production of IFNs and cytokines, the IFN‐activated JAK‐STAT signaling and the transcription of antiviral IFN‐stimulated genes (ISGs). Using gain‐ or loss‐of‐function analysis, the effect of lncRNAs on viral replication has been investigated to elucidate the essential role of lncRNA in the host–virus interaction. lncRNAs have shown specifically elevated or decreased levels in patients with viral diseases, suggesting the possibility of clinical application as biomarkers. Here we review the current advances of viral infection‐associated host lncRNAs, their functional significance in different aspects of antiviral immune response, the specific mechanisms and unsolved issues. We also summarize the regulation of lncRNAs by viruses, PRR agonists and cytokines. In addition, virus‐encoded lncRNAs and their functional involvement in host–virus interaction are addressed. WIREs RNA 2016, 7:129–143. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1321 This article is categorized under:
RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein–RNA Interactions: Functional Implications RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Ouyang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiayue Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ji-Long Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
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