Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs): Shaping the Innate Immune Response in Cancers
Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs) are accounting for 8% of the human genome. These sequences are remnants from ancient germline infections by exogenous retroviruses. After million years of evolution and multiple integrations, HERVs have acquired many damages rendering them defective. At steady s...
Main Authors: | , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-03-01
|
Series: | Cancers |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/12/3/610 |
id |
doaj-4ca0fd470f7d429b96a3a80c78c26633 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-4ca0fd470f7d429b96a3a80c78c266332020-11-25T02:56:01ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942020-03-0112361010.3390/cancers12030610cancers12030610Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs): Shaping the Innate Immune Response in CancersVincent Alcazer0Paola Bonaventura1Stephane Depil2Cancer Research Center of Lyon, 69008 Lyon, FranceCancer Research Center of Lyon, 69008 Lyon, FranceCancer Research Center of Lyon, 69008 Lyon, FranceHuman Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs) are accounting for 8% of the human genome. These sequences are remnants from ancient germline infections by exogenous retroviruses. After million years of evolution and multiple integrations, HERVs have acquired many damages rendering them defective. At steady state, HERVs are mostly localized in the heterochromatin and silenced by methylation. Multiple conditions have been described to induce their reactivation, including auto-immune diseases and cancers. HERVs re-expression leads to RNA (simple and double-stranded) and DNA production (by reverse transcription), modulating the innate immune response. Some studies also argue for a role of HERVs in shaping the evolution of innate immunity, notably in the development of the interferon response. However, their exact role in the innate immune response, particularly in cancer, remains to be defined. In this review, we see how HERVs could be key-players in mounting an antitumor immune response. After a brief introduction on HERVs characteristics and biology, we review the different mechanisms by which HERVs can interact with the immune system, with a focus on the innate response. We then discuss the potential impact of HERVs expression on the innate immune response in cancer.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/12/3/610human endogenous retrovirusesinnate immunitycancer |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Vincent Alcazer Paola Bonaventura Stephane Depil |
spellingShingle |
Vincent Alcazer Paola Bonaventura Stephane Depil Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs): Shaping the Innate Immune Response in Cancers Cancers human endogenous retroviruses innate immunity cancer |
author_facet |
Vincent Alcazer Paola Bonaventura Stephane Depil |
author_sort |
Vincent Alcazer |
title |
Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs): Shaping the Innate Immune Response in Cancers |
title_short |
Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs): Shaping the Innate Immune Response in Cancers |
title_full |
Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs): Shaping the Innate Immune Response in Cancers |
title_fullStr |
Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs): Shaping the Innate Immune Response in Cancers |
title_full_unstemmed |
Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs): Shaping the Innate Immune Response in Cancers |
title_sort |
human endogenous retroviruses (hervs): shaping the innate immune response in cancers |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Cancers |
issn |
2072-6694 |
publishDate |
2020-03-01 |
description |
Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs) are accounting for 8% of the human genome. These sequences are remnants from ancient germline infections by exogenous retroviruses. After million years of evolution and multiple integrations, HERVs have acquired many damages rendering them defective. At steady state, HERVs are mostly localized in the heterochromatin and silenced by methylation. Multiple conditions have been described to induce their reactivation, including auto-immune diseases and cancers. HERVs re-expression leads to RNA (simple and double-stranded) and DNA production (by reverse transcription), modulating the innate immune response. Some studies also argue for a role of HERVs in shaping the evolution of innate immunity, notably in the development of the interferon response. However, their exact role in the innate immune response, particularly in cancer, remains to be defined. In this review, we see how HERVs could be key-players in mounting an antitumor immune response. After a brief introduction on HERVs characteristics and biology, we review the different mechanisms by which HERVs can interact with the immune system, with a focus on the innate response. We then discuss the potential impact of HERVs expression on the innate immune response in cancer. |
topic |
human endogenous retroviruses innate immunity cancer |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/12/3/610 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT vincentalcazer humanendogenousretroviruseshervsshapingtheinnateimmuneresponseincancers AT paolabonaventura humanendogenousretroviruseshervsshapingtheinnateimmuneresponseincancers AT stephanedepil humanendogenousretroviruseshervsshapingtheinnateimmuneresponseincancers |
_version_ |
1724714663744110592 |