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Zhao Y, Li W, Xu J, Bao L, Wu K, Shan R, Hu X, Fu Y, Zhao C. Endogenous retroviruses modulate the susceptibility of mice to Staphylococcus aureus-induced mastitis by activating cGAS-STING signaling. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 142:113171. [PMID: 39312862 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.113171] [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: 06/19/2024] [Revised: 08/25/2024] [Accepted: 09/11/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
Recently studies showed that cow mastitis seriously affected the economic benefit of dairy industry and pathogen infection including S. aureus is the main cause of mastitis. However, there is still a lack of safe and effective treatment for S. aureus-induced mastitis due to its complex pathogenesis. Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) have long been symbiotic with mammals, and most ERVs still have the ability to produces complementary DNA (cDNA) by reverse transcription, whose induction by commensal or pathogens can regulate host immunity and inflammatory responses through the cGAS-STING pathway. However, whether and how ERVs participate in the pathogenesis of S. aureus-induced mastitis still unclear. In this study, we found that S. aureus treatment increased the levels of ERVs and IFN-β. Inhibition the transcription of ERVs by emtricitabine alleviated S. aureus-induced mammary injury, reduced mammary bacterial burden, and inhibited the production of mammary proinflammatory factors including TNF-α, IL-1β and MPO activity. Moreover, inhibition of ERVs restored the function of blood-milk barrier caused by S. aureus. Next, we showed that S. aureus infection activated mammary cGAS-STING signaling pathway, which was mediated by ERVs, as evidenced by emtricitabine inhibited S. aureus-induced activation of the cGAS-STING pathway. Interestingly, inhibition of cGAS-STING by Ru.521 and H151 respectively, significantly alleviated S. aureus-induced mammary injury and inflammatory responses, which was associated with the inhibition of NF-κB and NLRP3 signaling pathways. In conclusion, our study revealed that ERVs regulate the development of S. aureus-induced mastitis in mice through NF-κB- and NLRP3-mediated inflammatory responses via the activation of cGAS-STING pathway, suggesting that targeting ERVs-cGAS-STING axis may be a potential approach for the treatment of S. aureus-induced mastitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihong Zhao
- Department of Breast Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130031, Jilin Province, China; Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, Jilin Province, China
| | - Wenjia Li
- Department of Breast Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130031, Jilin Province, China
| | - Jiawen Xu
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, Jilin Province, China
| | - Lijuan Bao
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, Jilin Province, China
| | - Keyi Wu
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, Jilin Province, China
| | - Ruping Shan
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, Jilin Province, China
| | - Xiaoyu Hu
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, Jilin Province, China
| | - Yunhe Fu
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, Jilin Province, China
| | - Caijun Zhao
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, Jilin Province, China.
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Lamba V, Herlekar I, Chatterjee D, Patel K, Garg KM, Chattopadhyay B. Signature of viral fossils: a comparative genomics approach to understand the diversity of endogenous retroviruses in bats. Virus Res 2024; 350:199484. [PMID: 39419354 PMCID: PMC11546543 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199484] [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: 08/18/2024] [Revised: 10/13/2024] [Accepted: 10/14/2024] [Indexed: 10/19/2024]
Abstract
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are traces of past viral infections commonly found in vertebrate genomes. Many ERVs are tightly regulated by the host genomes and co-opted for various functions within the hosts. Bats are the only true volant mammals, with the smallest mammalian genomes and a high fraction of ERVs within the genomes. They are important hosts for various zoonotic viral pathogens and can effectively modulate their immune response to tolerate viral infections. Integrations of retroviruses have been implicated as one of the mechanisms by which bats have co-evolved strategies to combat viral infections. In this study, we investigated the diversity of ERVs in over 40 publicly available bat genomes to understand the distribution and the evolution of ERVs within bats. We observed all classes of ERVs within bat genomes including even the complex lenti retroviruses. Alpha and spuma retroviruses which are generally considered rare in mammals, were common within bats. We observed a positive correlation between bat genome size and length of ERV elements. Interestingly, nearly 30 % of the ERVs within bats are intact suggesting a recent origin or co-option by the host genome. Future studies focusing on comparative genomic and experimental data will be critical to understand the role of these ERVs in host genome evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinita Lamba
- Trivedi School of Biosciences, Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana, 131029, India; J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Ipsita Herlekar
- Centre for Creative writing and communication, Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana, 131029, India
| | | | - Kirnalee Patel
- Department of Biology, Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana, 131029, India
| | - Kritika M Garg
- Department of Biology, Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana, 131029, India; Centre for Interdisciplinary Archaeological Research, Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana, 131029, India
| | - Balaji Chattopadhyay
- Trivedi School of Biosciences, Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana, 131029, India.
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Mao J, Zhang Q, Zhuang Y, Zhang Y, Li L, Pan J, Xu L, Ding Y, Wang M, Cong YS. Reactivation of senescence-associated endogenous retroviruses by ATF3 drives interferon signaling in aging. NATURE AGING 2024; 4:1794-1812. [PMID: 39543280 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-024-00745-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2024] [Indexed: 11/17/2024]
Abstract
Reactivation of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) has been proposed to be involved in aging. However, the mechanism of reactivation and contribution to aging and age-associated diseases is largely unexplored. In this study, we identified a subclass of ERVs reactivated in senescent cells (termed senescence-associated ERVs (SA-ERVs)). These SA-ERVs can be bidirectional transcriptionally activated by activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) to generate double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs), which activate the RIG-I/MDA5-MAVS signaling pathway and trigger a type I interferon (IFN-I) response in senescent fibroblasts. Consistently, we found a concerted increased expression of ATF3 and SA-ERVs and enhanced IFN-I response in several tissues of healthy aged individuals and patients with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome. Moreover, we observed an accumulation of dsRNAs derived from SA-ERVs and higher levels of IFNβ in blood of aged individuals. Together, these results reveal a previously unknown mechanism for reactivation of SA-ERVs by ATF3 and illustrate SA-ERVs as an important component and hallmark of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Mao
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Hangzhou Normal University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Qian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Hangzhou Normal University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yang Zhuang
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Hangzhou Normal University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yinyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Hangzhou Normal University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Linmeng Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhuji People's Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Shaoxing, China
| | - Juan Pan
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Hangzhou Normal University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lu Xu
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University School of Nursing, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuxuan Ding
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Hangzhou Normal University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Miao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Hangzhou Normal University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yu-Sheng Cong
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Hangzhou Normal University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China.
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Jarosz AS, Halo JV. Transcription of Endogenous Retroviruses: Broad and Precise Mechanisms of Control. Viruses 2024; 16:1312. [PMID: 39205286 PMCID: PMC11359688 DOI: 10.3390/v16081312] [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: 06/24/2024] [Revised: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are the remnants of retroviral germline infections and are highly abundant in the genomes of vertebrates. At one time considered to be nothing more than inert 'junk' within genomes, ERVs have been tolerated within host genomes over vast timescales, and their study continues to reveal complex co-evolutionary histories within their respective host species. For example, multiple instances have been characterized of ERVs having been 'borrowed' for normal physiology, from single copies to ones involved in various regulatory networks such as innate immunity and during early development. Within the cell, the accessibility of ERVs is normally tightly controlled by epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation or histone modifications. However, these silencing mechanisms of ERVs are reversible, and epigenetic alterations to the chromatin landscape can thus lead to their aberrant expression, as is observed in abnormal cellular environments such as in tumors. In this review, we focus on ERV transcriptional control and draw parallels and distinctions concerning the loss of regulation in disease, as well as their precise regulation in early development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail S. Jarosz
- Science and Mathematics Division, Lorrain County Community College, Lorrain, OH 44035, USA;
| | - Julia V. Halo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA
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5
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Arriagada G, Quezada J, Merino-Veliz N, Avilés F, Tapia-Cammas D, Gomez J, Curotto D, Valdes JA, Oyarzún PA, Gallardo-Escárate C, Metzger MJ, Alvarez M. Identification and expression analysis of two steamer-like retrotransposons in the Chilean blue mussel (Mytilus chilensis). Biol Res 2024; 57:17. [PMID: 38664786 PMCID: PMC11046912 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-024-00498-x] [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: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disseminated neoplasia (DN) is a proliferative cell disorder of the circulatory system of bivalve mollusks. The disease is transmitted between individuals and can also be induced by external chemical agents such as bromodeoxyuridine. In Mya arenaria, we have cloned and characterized an LTR-retrotransposon named Steamer. Steamer mRNA levels and gene copy number correlates with DN and can be used as a marker of the disease. So far, the only mollusk where a retrotransposon expression relates to DN is Mya arenaria. On the other hand, it has been reported that the Chilean blue mussel Mytilus chilensis can also suffers DN. Our aim was to identify retrotransposons in Mytilus chilensis and to study their expression levels in the context of disseminated neoplasia. RESULTS Here we show that 7.1% of individuals collected in August 2018, from two farming areas, presents morphological characteristics described in DN. Using Steamer sequence to interrogate the transcriptome of M. chilensis we found two putative retrotransposons, named Steamer-like elements (MchSLEs). MchSLEs are present in the genome of M. chilensis and MchSLE1 is indeed an LTR-retrotransposon. Neither expression, nor copy number of the reported MchSLEs correlate with DN status but both are expressed at different levels among individual animals. We also report that in cultured M. chilensis haemocytes MchSLEs1 expression can be induced by bromodeoxyuridine. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that SLEs present in Mytilus chilensis are differentially expressed among individuals and do not correlate with disseminated neoplasia. Treatment of haemocytes with a stressor like bromodeoxyuridine induces expression of MchSLE1 suggesting that in Mytilus chilensis environmental stressors can induce activation of LTR-retrotransposon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Arriagada
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina y Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Johan Quezada
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina y Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nicolas Merino-Veliz
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina y Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Fernando Avilés
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina y Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Diana Tapia-Cammas
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina y Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jorge Gomez
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina y Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniela Curotto
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina y Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan A Valdes
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Interdisciplinary Center for Aquaculture Research (INCAR), University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Pablo A Oyarzún
- Centro de Investigación Marina Quintay (CIMARQ), Universidad Andres Bello, Quintay, Chile
| | | | | | - Marco Alvarez
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
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Zhang D, Wu X, Xue X, Li W, Zhou P, Lv Z, Zhao K, Zhu F. Ancient dormant virus remnant ERVW-1 drives ferroptosis via degradation of GPX4 and SLC3A2 in schizophrenia. Virol Sin 2024; 39:31-43. [PMID: 37690733 PMCID: PMC10877354 DOI: 10.1016/j.virs.2023.09.001] [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: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are remnants of retroviral infections in human germline cells from millions of years ago. Among these, ERVW-1 (also known as HERV-W-ENV, ERVWE1, or ENVW) encodes the envelope protein of the HERV-W family, which contributes to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Additionally, neuropathological studies have revealed cell death and disruption of iron homeostasis in the brains of individuals with schizophrenia. Here, our bioinformatics analysis showed that differentially expressed genes in the human prefrontal cortex RNA microarray dataset (GSE53987) were mainly related to ferroptosis and its associated pathways. Clinical data demonstrated significantly lower expression levels of ferroptosis-related genes, particularly Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and solute carrier family 3 member 2 (SLC3A2), in schizophrenia patients compared to normal controls. Further in-depth analyses revealed a significant negative correlation between ERVW-1 expression and the levels of GPX4/SLC3A2 in schizophrenia. Studies indicated that ERVW-1 increased iron levels, malondialdehyde (MDA), and transferrin receptor protein 1 (TFR1) expression while decreasing glutathione (GSH) levels and triggering the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, suggesting that ERVW-1 can induce ferroptosis. Ongoing research has shown that ERVW-1 reduced the expression of GPX4 and SLC3A2 by inhibiting their promoter activities. Moreover, Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1), the ferroptosis inhibitor, reversed the iron accumulation and mitochondrial membrane potential loss, as well as restored the expressions of ferroptosis markers GSH, MDA, and TFR1 induced by ERVW-1. In conclusion, ERVW-1 could promote ferroptosis by downregulating the expression of GPX4 and SLC3A2, revealing a novel mechanism by which ERVW-1 contributes to neuronal cell death in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongyan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Xiulin Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Xing Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Wenshi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Ping Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Zhao Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Kexin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Fan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China; Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy & Immunology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
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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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8
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Katoh H, Honda T. Roles of Human Endogenous Retroviruses and Endogenous Virus-Like Elements in Cancer Development and Innate Immunity. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1706. [PMID: 38136578 PMCID: PMC10741599 DOI: 10.3390/biom13121706] [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: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are remnants of ancient retroviral infections in the host genome. Although mutations and silencing mechanisms impair their original role in viral replication, HERVs are believed to play roles in various biological processes. Long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) are non-LTR retrotransposons that have a lifecycle resembling that of retroviruses. Although LINE expression is typically silenced in somatic cells, it also contributes to various biological processes. The aberrant expression of HERVs and LINEs is closely associated with the development of cancer and/or immunological diseases, suggesting that they are integrated into various pathways related to the diseases. HERVs/LINEs control gene expression depending on the context as promoter/enhancer elements. Some RNAs and proteins derived from HERVs/LINEs have oncogenic potential, whereas others stimulate innate immunity. Non-retroviral endogenous viral elements (nrEVEs) are a novel type of virus-like element in the genome. nrEVEs may also be involved in host immunity. This article provides a current understanding of how these elements impact cellular physiology in cancer development and innate immunity, and provides perspectives for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirokazu Katoh
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8558, Japan;
| | - Tomoyuki Honda
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8558, Japan;
- Department of Virology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
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9
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Dubowsky M, Theunissen F, Carr JM, Rogers ML. The Molecular Link Between TDP-43, Endogenous Retroviruses and Inflammatory Neurodegeneration in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: a Potential Target for Triumeq, an Antiretroviral Therapy. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:6330-6345. [PMID: 37450244 PMCID: PMC10533598 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03472-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND), is a progressive neurological disorder, characterised by the death of upper and lower motor neurons. The aetiology of ALS remains unknown, and treatment options are limited. Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), specifically human endogenous retrovirus type K (HERV-K), have been proposed to be involved in the propagation of neurodegeneration in ALS. ERVs are genomic remnants of ancient viral infection events, with most being inactive and not retaining the capacity to encode a fully infectious virus. However, some ERVs retain the ability to be activated and transcribed, and ERV transcripts have been found to be elevated within the brain tissue of MND patients. A hallmark of ALS pathology is altered localisation of the transactive response (TAR) DNA binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43), which is normally found within the nucleus of neuronal and glial cells and is involved in RNA regulation. In ALS, TDP-43 aggregates within the cytoplasm and facilitates neurodegeneration. The involvement of ERVs in ALS pathology is thought to occur through TDP-43 and neuroinflammatory mediators. In this review, the proposed involvement of TDP-43, HERV-K and immune regulators on the onset and progression of ALS will be discussed. Furthermore, the evidence supporting a therapy based on targeting ERVs in ALS will be reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Dubowsky
- College of Medicine and Public Health and Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.
| | - Frances Theunissen
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | - Jillian M Carr
- College of Medicine and Public Health and Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
| | - Mary-Louise Rogers
- College of Medicine and Public Health and Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
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10
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Costa B, Vale N. Exploring HERV-K (HML-2) Influence in Cancer and Prospects for Therapeutic Interventions. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14631. [PMID: 37834078 PMCID: PMC10572383 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914631] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
This review investigates the intricate role of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) in cancer development and progression, explicitly focusing on HERV-K (HML-2). This paper sheds light on the latest research advancements and potential treatment strategies by examining the historical context of HERVs and their involvement in critical biological processes such as embryonic development, immune response, and disease progression. This review covers computational modeling for drug-target binding assessment, systems biology modeling for simulating HERV-K viral cargo dynamics, and using antiviral drugs to combat HERV-induced diseases. The findings presented in this review contribute to our understanding of HERV-mediated disease mechanisms and provide insights into future therapeutic approaches. They emphasize why HERV-K holds significant promise as a biomarker and a target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara Costa
- OncoPharma Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, s/n, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal;
- CINTESIS@RISE, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, s/n, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Vale
- OncoPharma Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, s/n, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal;
- CINTESIS@RISE, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, s/n, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
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11
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Kyriakou E, Magiorkinis G. Interplay between endogenous and exogenous human retroviruses. Trends Microbiol 2023; 31:933-946. [PMID: 37019721 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
In humans, retroviruses thrive more as symbionts than as parasites. Apart from the only two modern exogenous human retroviruses (human T-cell lymphotropic and immunodeficiency viruses; HTLV and HIV, respectively), ~8% of the human genome is occupied by ancient retroviral DNA [human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs)]. Here, we review the recent discoveries about the interactions between the two groups, the impact of infection by exogenous retroviruses on the expression of HERVs, the effect of HERVs on the pathogenicity of HIV and HTLV and on the severity of the diseases caused by them, and the antiviral protection that HERVs can allegedly provide to the host. Tracing the crosstalk between contemporary retroviruses and their endogenized ancestors will provide better understanding of the retroviral world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Kyriakou
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Gkikas Magiorkinis
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
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Casamassimi A, Ciccodicola A, Rienzo M. Transcriptional Regulation and Its Misregulation in Human Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108640. [PMID: 37239985 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional regulation is a critical biological process that allows the cell or an organism to respond to a variety of intra- and extracellular signals, to define cell identity during development, to maintain it throughout its lifetime, and to coordinate cellular activity [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelia Casamassimi
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via L. De Crecchio, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Alfredo Ciccodicola
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics "Adriano Buzzati-Traverso", CNR, Via P. Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Naples "Parthenope", 80143 Naples, Italy
| | - Monica Rienzo
- Department of Environmental, Biological, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
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13
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Fan TJ, Cui J. Human Endogenous Retroviruses in Diseases. Subcell Biochem 2023; 106:403-439. [PMID: 38159236 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-40086-5_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), which are conserved sequences of ancient retroviruses, are widely distributed in the human genome. Although most HERVs have been rendered inactive by evolution, some have continued to exhibit important cytological functions. HERVs in the human genome perform dual functions: on the one hand, they are involved in important physiological processes such as placental development and immune regulation; on the other hand, their aberrant expression is closely associated with the pathological processes of several diseases, such as cancers, autoimmune diseases, and viral infections. HERVs can also regulate a variety of host cellular functions, including the expression of protein-coding genes and regulatory elements that have evolved from HERVs. Here, we present recent research on the roles of HERVs in viral infections and cancers, including the dysregulation of HERVs in various viral infections, HERV-induced epigenetic modifications of histones (such as methylation and acetylation), and the potential mechanisms of HERV-mediated antiviral immunity. We also describe therapies to improve the efficacy of vaccines and medications either by directly or indirectly targeting HERVs, depending on the HERV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-Jiao Fan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Cui
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
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Rangel SC, da Silva MD, da Silva AL, dos Santos JDMB, Neves LM, Pedrosa A, Rodrigues FM, Trettel CDS, Furtado GE, de Barros MP, Bachi ALL, Romano CM, Nali LHDS. Human endogenous retroviruses and the inflammatory response: A vicious circle associated with health and illness. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1057791. [PMID: 36518758 PMCID: PMC9744114 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1057791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs) are derived from ancient exogenous retroviral infections that have infected our ancestors' germline cells, underwent endogenization process, and were passed throughout the generations by retrotransposition and hereditary transmission. HERVs comprise 8% of the human genome and are critical for several physiological activities. Yet, HERVs reactivation is involved in pathological process as cancer and autoimmune diseases. In this review, we summarize the multiple aspects of HERVs' role within the human genome, as well as virological and molecular aspects, and their fusogenic property. We also discuss possibilities of how the HERVs are possibly transactivated and participate in modulating the inflammatory response in health conditions. An update on their role in several autoimmune, inflammatory, and aging-related diseases is also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Coelho Rangel
- UNISA Research Center, Universidade Santo Amaro, Post-Graduation in Health Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Amanda Lopes da Silva
- Laboratório de Virologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Lucas Melo Neves
- UNISA Research Center, Universidade Santo Amaro, Post-Graduation in Health Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana Pedrosa
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB - Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, (3004-504), Coimbra, Portugal
| | | | - Caio dos Santos Trettel
- Interdisciplinary Program in Health Sciences, Institute of Physical Activity Sciences and Sports (ICAFE), Cruzeiro do Sul University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Eustáquio Furtado
- Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Applied Research Institute, Rua da Misericórdia, Lagar dos Cortiços – S. Martinho do Bispo, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Marcelo Paes de Barros
- Interdisciplinary Program in Health Sciences, Institute of Physical Activity Sciences and Sports (ICAFE), Cruzeiro do Sul University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - André Luis Lacerda Bachi
- UNISA Research Center, Universidade Santo Amaro, Post-Graduation in Health Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Camila Malta Romano
- Laboratório de Virologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP (LIM52), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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