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Do endogenous retroviruses have etiological implications in inflammatory and degenerative nervous system diseases?
H. B. Rasmussen,
H. Perron,
J. Clausen,
Corresponding Author
H. B. Rasmussen
Institute of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Roskilde University, UMR 103 CNRS-Biomerieux, ENSL, Lyon and Laboratoire de Virologie, CHRU, Grenoble, France
H. B. Rasmussen, Institute of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Roskilde University, P. O. Box 260, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.Search for more papers by this authorH. Perron
Institute of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Roskilde University, UMR 103 CNRS-Biomerieux, ENSL, Lyon and Laboratoire de Virologie, CHRU, Grenoble, France
Search for more papers by this authorJ. Clausen
Institute of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Roskilde University, UMR 103 CNRS-Biomerieux, ENSL, Lyon and Laboratoire de Virologie, CHRU, Grenoble, France
Search for more papers by this authorH. B. Rasmussen,
H. Perron,
J. Clausen,
Corresponding Author
H. B. Rasmussen
Institute of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Roskilde University, UMR 103 CNRS-Biomerieux, ENSL, Lyon and Laboratoire de Virologie, CHRU, Grenoble, France
H. B. Rasmussen, Institute of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Roskilde University, P. O. Box 260, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.Search for more papers by this authorH. Perron
Institute of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Roskilde University, UMR 103 CNRS-Biomerieux, ENSL, Lyon and Laboratoire de Virologie, CHRU, Grenoble, France
Search for more papers by this authorJ. Clausen
Institute of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Roskilde University, UMR 103 CNRS-Biomerieux, ENSL, Lyon and Laboratoire de Virologie, CHRU, Grenoble, France
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Vertebrates carry large numbers of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) and related sequences in their genomes. These retroviral elements are inherited as Mendelian traits. Generally, ERVs are defective without the ability of being expressed as viral particles. However, ERV sequences often have a potential for expression of at least some proteins. So far, the possible biological significance of ERVs is not clear. Nonetheless, there are observations suggesting a connection between ERVs and various diseases. This is the case with murine lupus and a spinal cord disease of certain mouse strains. In the present review, we discuss possible mechanisms by which ERVs could contribute to the development of human degenerative and inflammatory nervous system diseases, including direct effects on nervous system cells and immune cells. Interactions between ERVs and infectious viruses are also discussed. Finally, we review a possible retroviral etiology of multiple sclerosis.
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