Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2026
13:19
Microarray-based Identification of Individual HERV Loci Expression: Application to Biomarker Discovery in Prostate Cancer
Published on: November 2, 2013
Endogenous retroviruses and MS: using ERVs as disease markers
1Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark. j.claussen@mail.dk
International MS Journal
|August 9, 2003
Summary
Human endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) may play a role in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis. Specific ERV patterns, like HRES-1, show unique characteristics in MS patients, suggesting a potential link to the disease.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Genetics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) etiology involves genetic and environmental factors.
- Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are genomic elements with potential roles in MS.
- ERV activation has been observed in MS patient cells and tissues.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the potential role of ERVs as genetic markers or indicators of stress in MS.
- Examine the polymorphic patterns of specific ERVs in relation to MS.
- Determine if ERV activation is linked to MS pathogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Culturing of specific cell types (B cells) from MS patients in vitro.
- Detection of viral RNA from ERVs using reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in patient samples.
- Analysis of polymorphic patterns and haplotypes of ERVs (ERV-3, HRES-1) in MS patients and controls.
Main Results:
- Activation of HERV-H/RGH, HERV-W, and ERV-9 was reported in MS patient cells.
- ERV RNA detected in sera/plasma and brain tissues of MS patients.
- HRES-1 long terminal repeat sequences showed polymorphic patterns characteristic of MS, differing between patient populations.
Conclusions:
- ERVs may contribute to MS through autoimmune reactions or as inflammatory epiphenomena.
- HRES-1 exhibits population-specific polymorphic patterns in MS patients, suggesting a genetic association.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the precise role of ERVs in MS development and progression.
More Related Videos
08:47Induction of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Mice and Evaluation of the Disease-dependent Distribution of Immune Cells in Various Tissues
Published on: May 8, 2016
10:10Retroviral Scanning: Mapping MLV Integration Sites to Define Cell-specific Regulatory Regions
Published on: May 28, 2017
Related Concept Videos
01:10Retrovirus Life Cycles
Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the retrovirus to...
02:33Retroviruses
Retroviruses and retrotransposons both insert copies of their genetic elements into the genome of the host cell. Thus, the viral genes are passed on when the host genome is replicated or translated. A typical retroviral DNA sequence contains 3-4 genes that encode the different proteins required for its structural assembly and function as a molecular parasite. This DNA is transcribed into a single mRNA, which is very similar in structure to conventional mRNAs, i.e., it is capped at the 5’...
03:18Non-LTR Retrotransposons
As the name suggests, non-LTR retrotransposons lack the long terminal repeats characteristic of the LTR retrotransposons. Additionally, both LTR and non-LTR retrotransposons use distinct mechanisms of mobilization. Non-LTR retrotransposons are further divided into two classes - Long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) and short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs), both of which occur abundantly in most mammals, including humans. Some of the active non-LTR retrotransposons in humans are L1...
01:51Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers
Retroviruses are RNA viruses that have been shown to cause cancers in diverse species, including chickens, mice, cats, and monkeys. The RNA genomes of these viruses are first reverse-transcribed into single and then double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) copies. This dsDNA called proviral DNA then integrates into the host genome. Subsequently, the host cell transcribes the proviral DNA in concert with the chromosomal DNA. This leads to the production of viral RNA and proteins that assemble at the host...
01:03Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer
Rous Sarcoma virus or RSV was discovered by F. Peyton Rous in the year 1911 as a filterable transmissible agent that could cause tumors in chickens. He won a Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1966. His experiments clearly demonstrated that some cancers could be caused by infectious agents and led to the discovery of many more cancer-causing viruses in animals as well as humans.
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
01:19Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. It is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder and a leading cause of neurological disability in young adults.EpidemiologyMS commonly begins between 20 and 40 years of age and is twice as common in women. Its exact cause remains unclear, but genetic susceptibility contributes, with higher risk in first-degree relatives and identical twins. A greater...