An envelope glycoprotein of the human endogenous retrovirus HERV-W is expressed in the human placenta and fuses cells expressing the type D mammalian retrovirus receptor.
A new human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) family, termed HERV-W, was recently described (J.-L. Blond, F. Besème, L. Duret, O. Bouton, F. Bedin, H. Perron, B. Mandrand, and F. Mallet, J. Virol. 73:1175-1185, 1999). HERV-W mRNAs were found to be specifically expressed in placenta cells, and an env cDNA containing a complete open reading frame was recovered. In cell-cell fusion assays, we demonstrate here that the product of the HERV-W env gene is a highly fusogenic membrane glycoprotein. Transfection of an HERV-W Env expression vector in a panel of cell lines derived from different species resulted in formation of syncytia in primate and pig cells upon interaction with the type D mammalian retrovirus receptor. Moreover, envelope glycoproteins encoded by HERV-W were specifically detected in placenta cells, suggesting that they may play a physiological role during pregnancy and placenta formation.
Blond
J L
JL
Unité Mixte 103 CNRS-bioMérieux, INSERM U412, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07, France.
Lavillette
D
D
Cheynet
V
V
Bouton
O
O
Oriol
G
G
Chapel-Fernandes
S
S
Mandrand
B
B
Mallet
F
F
Cosset
F L
FL
D002459:Cell Fusion; D002460:Cell Line; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000378:metabolism*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000378:metabolism*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D006023:Glycoproteins; D011991:Receptors, Virus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins