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Retroviruses and systemic lupus erythematosus
M Herrmann1, M Hagenhofer, J R Kalden
1Department of Medicine III, Friedrich-Alexander University, Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.
Immunological Reviews
|August 1, 1996
Summary
Retroviruses play defined roles in animal autoimmune diseases. Research into retroviral involvement in human autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is ongoing, focusing on antibodies and antigens.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Retroviruses are implicated in animal autoimmune diseases, such as caprine arthritis encephalitis virus, equine infectious anemia virus, and Maedi-Visna virus infections in ungulates.
- In MRL lpr/lpr mice, retrotransposon insertion into the fas gene leads to autoreactive lymphocyte survival, demonstrating a link between endogenous retroelements and autoimmunity.
- Despite these findings, molecular data on retroviral involvement in human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other autoimmune rheumatic diseases are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the established roles of exogenous and endogenous retroviruses in animal models of autoimmune diseases.
- To highlight the scarcity of molecular data regarding retroviral involvement in human autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
- To emphasize the importance of analyzing retroviral antibodies and antigens in human autoimmune diseases for identifying potential causative agents.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on retroviral involvement in animal models of autoimmune diseases.
- Analysis of studies investigating retroviral antibodies and antigens in human autoimmune diseases.
- Comparative assessment of retroviral roles in animal versus human autoimmune conditions.
Main Results:
- Clear definition of retroviral roles in ungulate autoimmune diseases (e.g., caprine arthritis encephalitis virus, equine infectious anemia virus, Maedi-Visna virus).
- Demonstration of retrotransposon-induced autoimmunity in MRL lpr/lpr mice.
- Identification of a significant gap in molecular data concerning retroviral etiology in human SLE and related rheumatic diseases.
Conclusions:
- Retroviruses are established etiological factors in specific animal autoimmune diseases.
- Further research is crucial to investigate the potential role of retroviruses in human autoimmune rheumatic diseases, including SLE.
- Analysis of retroviral markers (antibodies, antigens) is a key strategy in the search for retroviral agents in human autoimmune pathologies.