title: Demystified. Human endogenous retroviruses.
abstract: Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are a family of viruses within our genome with similarities to present day exogenous retroviruses. HERVs have been inherited by successive generations and it is possible that some have conferred biological benefits. However, several HERVs have been implicated in certain cancers and autoimmune diseases. This article demystifies these retroviruses by providing an insight into HERVs, their means of classification, and a synopsis of HERVs implicated in cancer and autoimmunity. Furthermore, the biological roles of HERVs are explored.
authors.affiliation: School of Applied Sciences, Division of Biomedical Science and Biosciences, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 1SB, UK. P.N.Nelson@wlv.ac.uk
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Carnegie
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Davari Ejtehadi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hooley
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roden
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rowland-Jones
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Astley
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D018389:Codon, Nonsense / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D005814:Genes, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D015894:Genome, Human; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020079:Terminal Repeat Sequences / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D018389:Codon, Nonsense; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004247:DNA; C053692:CKS 17