RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: HERVs are human endogenous retroviruses, which represent about 8% of the human genome, and have various physiological functions, especially in pregnancy, embryo development and placenta formation. However, their involvement in diseases is not well defined. Some studies have observed changes in HERV expression according to age. OBJECTIVE: Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to analyze their role in pathogenesis and usage as diagnosis or prognosis biomarkers in aging disorders. METHODS: In this study, a search on the Pubmed interface was performed for papers published from January 1953 to June 1st, 2021. RESULTS: 45 articles have been included, which matched the eligibility criteria and evaluated the following diseases: breast cancer, prostate cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), osteoarthritis, Alzheimer's disease, immuno-senescence, cognitive impairment, cataract, glaucoma and hypertension. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the results suggested that HERVs play a role in the pathogenesis and can be used as biomarkers for the diagnosis or prognosis of aging disorders.
Assuntos
Retrovirus Endógenos , Neoplasias da Próstata , Masculino , Feminino , Gravidez , Humanos , Biomarcadores , Placenta , Neoplasias da Próstata/genética , Envelhecimento/genéticaRESUMO
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.
Assuntos
Doenças Autoimunes , Retrovirus Endógenos , Neoplasias , Infecções por Retroviridae , Humanos , Retrovirus Endógenos/genética , Infecções por Retroviridae/genética , Neoplasias/genética , Genoma Humano , Doenças Autoimunes/genéticaRESUMO
ABSTRACT Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) plays a crucial role in viral infections by preventing viral replication and in the promotion of innate and adaptive immune responses. However, IFN-gamma can exert distinct effects in different persistent viral infections. The long-term overproduction of IFN-γ in retroviral infections, such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), and human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), resulting in inflammation, may cause neuronal damage. This review is provocative about the role of IFN-γ during persistent retroviral infections and its relationship with the causation of some neurological disorders that are important for public health.
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Genomic incorporation of viruses as human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are components of our genome that possibly originated by incorporating ancestral of exogenous viruses. Their roles in the evolution of the human genome, gene expression, and the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases (ADs) and neoplastic phenomena are the subject of intense research. This review analyzes the evolutionary and virological aspects of HERVs and other viruses that incorporate their genome into the human genome and have known role in the genesis of ADs. These insights are helpful to understand further the possible role in autoimmunity genesis of HERVs, other ancestral viruses no HERVs and modern viruses with the ability to incorporate into the human genome or interact with HERVs.
RESUMO
The human genome contains a large number of endogenous retroviruses (HERVs). Their reactivation has frequently been observed in patients with cancer. Considering their role in the carcinogenesis process, we aimed to study the possible relationship between HERVs gene expression and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). We focused on two viral genes gag and np9, the latter presumably an oncogene. We found that the transcriptional activity of HERV-K np9 gene was greater in CLL patients than in healthy donors. However, gag expression was not significantly increased. These findings suggest a noteworthy relationship between CLL disease and HERV-K np9 expression.