title: The multiple sclerosis-associated retrovirus and its HERV-W endogenous family: a biological interface between virology, genetics, and immunology in human physiology and disease.
abstract: This mini-review summarizes current knowledge of MSRV (multiple sclerosis-associated retrovirus), founder member of the type W family of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), its pathogenic potential and association with diseases. As retrotransposable elements, HERVs behave differently from stable genes, and cannot be studied with "Mendelian genetics" concepts only. They also display complex interactions with other HERV families, and with classical viruses. These concepts may contribute to unravelling the etiopathogenesis of complex diseases such as multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, and other chronic multifactorial diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Microbiology, and Center of Excellence for Biotechnology Development and Biodiversity Research, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43B, Sassari, Italy. doleivir@uniss.it
authors.forename: Antonina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dolei
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Perron
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins