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The aliens inside us: HERV-W endogenous retroviruses and multiple sclerosis

Antonina Dolei1

  • 1Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.

Multiple Sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)
|January 9, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Human endogenous retroviruses (HERV-W) like MSRV are linked to multiple sclerosis (MS) progression. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) activates HERV-W/MSRV, potentially triggering MS years later.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Virology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Human endogenous retroviruses (HERV-W) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) are implicated in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis.
  • HERV-W family members, including MS-associated retrovirus (MSRV) and ERVWE1, exhibit neuropathogenic potential in preclinical models.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between HERV-W/MSRV and MS development and progression.
  • To explore the role of EBV in activating HERV-W/MSRV in the context of MS.

Main Methods:

  • Detection of HERV-W/MSRV in MS patients across different disease stages and in relation to therapy outcomes.
  • Analysis of HERV-Wenv protein expression in active MS lesions.
  • Assessment of EBV's in vitro and in vivo activation of HERV-W/MSRV.

Main Results:

  • HERV-W/MSRV presence correlates with MS stages, activity, and therapy response.
  • High expression of HERV-Wenv is observed in active MS plaques.
  • Early MSRV detection in cerebrospinal fluid predicts long-term MS progression.
  • Effective MS therapies reduce HERV-W/MSRV expression.
  • EBV activates HERV-W/MSRV in infectious mononucleosis patients and individuals with high anti-EBNA1-IgG titers.

Conclusions:

  • HERV-W/MSRV is a significant co-factor in MS, with its presence and expression correlating with disease activity and progression.
  • EBV activation of HERV-W/MSRV may represent an early trigger for MS development years before clinical onset.
Keywords:
HERV-W/MSRV/Syncytin-1 human endogenous retrovirusesMS pathogenesisMS therapybiomarkerdual virus hypothesis

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