Identification and clinical implications of endogenous retrovirus elements suppressed by SETDB1 in hepatocellular carcinoma.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

The inhibition of epigenetic regulators activates endogenous retrovirus (ERV) expression, which can stimulate a viral mimicry response in cancer cells. ERV elements are aberrantly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, the expression of ERVs regulated by histone modifications and their clinical significance in HCC remain unclear. Here, we identified specific human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) elements epigenetically suppressed by the histone methyltransferase SETDB1 in HCC.

Methods

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset was analyzed to identify HERV elements based on SETDB1 expression levels. SETDB1 knockdown (KD) was performed in mouse and human HCC cells to investigate the resulting biological effects and changes in HERV expre

SUBMITTER: Igarashi Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11889587 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature