HERV-W polymorphism in chromosome X is associated with multiple sclerosis risk and with differential expression of MSRV.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune demyelinating disease that occurs more frequently in women than in men. Multiple Sclerosis Associated Retrovirus (MSRV) is a member of HERV-W, a multicopy human endogenous retroviral family repeatedly implicated in MS pathogenesis. MSRV envelope protein is elevated in the serum of MS patients and induces inflammation and demyelination but, in spite of this pathogenic potential, its exact genomic origin and mechanism of generation are unknown. A possible link between the HERV-W copy on chromosome Xq22.3, that contains an almost complete open reading frame, and the gender differential prevalence in MS has been suggested.

Results

MSRV transcription levels were higher in MS patients than in controls (U-Mann-Whitney; p = 0.004).

SUBMITTER: Garcia-Montojo M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3892049 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature