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Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Pharmacologic Induction of Epidermal Melanin and Protection Against Sunburn in a Humanized Mouse Model
Published on: September 7, 2013
Expression of human endogenous retrovirus K is stimulated by ultraviolet radiation in melanoma
Oliver Schanab1, Johannes Humer, Andreas Gleiss
1Department of Dermatology, Division of General Dermatology, Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Guertel, Vienna, Austria. oliver.schanab@meduniwien.ac.at
Abstract:
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) represent a cellular reservoir of potentially pathogenic retroviral genes. A growing body of evidence indicates that the activation of endogenous retroviral sequences might be involved in the transformation of melanocytes. In this study, we investigated the effects of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on the expression of human endogenous retrovirus type K (HERV-K) in melanoma cells and non-melanoma cells in vitro. Solely in melanoma cell lines, irradiation with UVB (200 mJ/cm(2)) resulted in a significant transcriptional activation of the retroviral pol gene as well as in an enhanced expression of the retroviral envelope protein (env). In addition, UVB treatment induced the production of retroviral particles in the supernatants of melanoma cell lines. These data indicate that HERV-K expression can be activated by UVB irradiation and suggest an involvement of HERV-K in UVR-related melanoma pathogenesis.
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