Human Endogenous Retroviruses and Type 1 Diabetes.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose of the review

The aim of this review is to discuss recent data pointing at an involvement of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) in type 1 diabetes (T1D) onset and progression.

Recent findings

The envelope protein of HERV-W family, named HERV-W-Env, was detected in pancreata from T1D patients and was shown to display pro-inflammatory properties and direct toxicity toward pancreatic beta cells. The etiopathogenesis of T1D remains elusive, even if conventional environmental viral infections have been recurrently involved. Nonetheless, a new category of pathogens may provide the missing link between genetic susceptibility and environmental factors long thought to contribute to T1D onset. A number of studies have now shown that HERV sequences, which are normally inacti

SUBMITTER: Levet S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6872510 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature