title: Expression of human endogenous retrovirus K is stimulated by ultraviolet radiation in melanoma.
abstract: Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) represent a cellular reservoir of potentially pathogenic retroviral genes. A growing body of evidence indicates that the activation of endogenous retroviral sequences might be involved in the transformation of melanocytes. In this study, we investigated the effects of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on the expression of human endogenous retrovirus type K (HERV-K) in melanoma cells and non-melanoma cells in vitro. Solely in melanoma cell lines, irradiation with UVB (200 mJ/cm(2)) resulted in a significant transcriptional activation of the retroviral pol gene as well as in an enhanced expression of the retroviral envelope protein (env). In addition, UVB treatment induced the production of retroviral particles in the supernatants of melanoma cell lines. These data indicate that HERV-K expression can be activated by UVB irradiation and suggest an involvement of HERV-K in UVR-related melanoma pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Division of General Dermatology, Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Guertel, Vienna, Austria. oliver.schanab@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schanab
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Humer
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gleiss
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mikula
authors.forename: Sanda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sturlan
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grunt
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muster
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pehamberger
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Waltenberger
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral / Q000528:radiation effects; D015684:Gene Products, pol / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000821:virology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014771:Virion / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D015684:Gene Products, pol; D012333:RNA, Messenger