No additional copies of HERV-Fc1 in the germ line of multiple sclerosis patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are suspected to play a role in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). This suspicion has in part been based on increased expression of viral RNA or proteins or antibodies targeting retroviral products in MS patients. Recently, our group provided genetic evidence for association between the endogenous retrovirus HERV-Fc1 and MS, suggesting that HERV-Fc1 plays a role in this multifactorial disease. We have found increased expression of HERV-Fc1 in MS patients suffering from recent attack, but the underlying mechanism for association is still unknown.

Findings

Evidence from animal models indicates that ERV implication in the pathogenesis of diseases can be a result of extra copies of the virus in the germ line. Therefore, w

SUBMITTER: Nissen KK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3459695 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature