Activation of Endogenous Retrovirus, Brain Infections and Environmental Insults in Neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s Disease
Chronic neurodegenerative diseases are complex, and their pathogenesis is uncertain. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative brain alteration that is responsible for most dementia cases in the elderly. AD etiology is still uncertain; however, chronic neuroinflammation is a constant component...
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doaj-077e8e0fb3c84fb08542d419dc39d1252021-07-23T13:45:12ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672021-07-01227263726310.3390/ijms22147263Activation of Endogenous Retrovirus, Brain Infections and Environmental Insults in Neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s DiseaseFederico Licastro0Elisa Porcellini1Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, ItalyChronic neurodegenerative diseases are complex, and their pathogenesis is uncertain. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative brain alteration that is responsible for most dementia cases in the elderly. AD etiology is still uncertain; however, chronic neuroinflammation is a constant component of brain pathology. Infections have been associated with several neurological diseases and viruses of the Herpes family appear to be a probable cause of AD neurodegenerative alterations. Several different factors may contribute to the AD clinical progression. Exogeneous viruses or other microbes and environmental pollutants may directly induce neurodegeneration by activating brain inflammation. In this paper, we suggest that exogeneous brain insults may also activate retrotransposons and silent human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs). The initial inflammation of small brain areas induced by virus infections or other brain insults may activate HERV dis-regulation that contributes to neurodegenerative mechanisms. Chronic HERV activation in turn may cause progressive neurodegeneration that thereafter merges in cognitive impairment and dementia in genetically susceptible people. Specific treatment for exogenous end endogenous pathogens and decreasing pollutant exposure may show beneficial effect in early intervention protocol to prevent the progression of cognitive deterioration in the elderly.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/14/7263Alzheimer’s diseaseinflammationhuman endogenous retrovirus activation |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Federico Licastro Elisa Porcellini |
spellingShingle |
Federico Licastro Elisa Porcellini Activation of Endogenous Retrovirus, Brain Infections and Environmental Insults in Neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s Disease International Journal of Molecular Sciences Alzheimer’s disease inflammation human endogenous retrovirus activation |
author_facet |
Federico Licastro Elisa Porcellini |
author_sort |
Federico Licastro |
title |
Activation of Endogenous Retrovirus, Brain Infections and Environmental Insults in Neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s Disease |
title_short |
Activation of Endogenous Retrovirus, Brain Infections and Environmental Insults in Neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s Disease |
title_full |
Activation of Endogenous Retrovirus, Brain Infections and Environmental Insults in Neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s Disease |
title_fullStr |
Activation of Endogenous Retrovirus, Brain Infections and Environmental Insults in Neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s Disease |
title_full_unstemmed |
Activation of Endogenous Retrovirus, Brain Infections and Environmental Insults in Neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s Disease |
title_sort |
activation of endogenous retrovirus, brain infections and environmental insults in neurodegeneration and alzheimer’s disease |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
issn |
1661-6596 1422-0067 |
publishDate |
2021-07-01 |
description |
Chronic neurodegenerative diseases are complex, and their pathogenesis is uncertain. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative brain alteration that is responsible for most dementia cases in the elderly. AD etiology is still uncertain; however, chronic neuroinflammation is a constant component of brain pathology. Infections have been associated with several neurological diseases and viruses of the Herpes family appear to be a probable cause of AD neurodegenerative alterations. Several different factors may contribute to the AD clinical progression. Exogeneous viruses or other microbes and environmental pollutants may directly induce neurodegeneration by activating brain inflammation. In this paper, we suggest that exogeneous brain insults may also activate retrotransposons and silent human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs). The initial inflammation of small brain areas induced by virus infections or other brain insults may activate HERV dis-regulation that contributes to neurodegenerative mechanisms. Chronic HERV activation in turn may cause progressive neurodegeneration that thereafter merges in cognitive impairment and dementia in genetically susceptible people. Specific treatment for exogenous end endogenous pathogens and decreasing pollutant exposure may show beneficial effect in early intervention protocol to prevent the progression of cognitive deterioration in the elderly. |
topic |
Alzheimer’s disease inflammation human endogenous retrovirus activation |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/14/7263 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT federicolicastro activationofendogenousretrovirusbraininfectionsandenvironmentalinsultsinneurodegenerationandalzheimersdisease AT elisaporcellini activationofendogenousretrovirusbraininfectionsandenvironmentalinsultsinneurodegenerationandalzheimersdisease |
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1721287864525783040 |