title: Human Endogenous Retrovirus Expression in Primary Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS) are the most frequent cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL). Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) were reverse transcribed and integrated into primate chromosomal DNA, becoming noninfectious, although various stimuli may reactivate them. HERV expression seems to be impaired in several human diseases but limited data regarding CTCL are available.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the endogenous retroviral transcription profile in CTCL and their expression among disease clinical stages.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 42 MF/SS patients were analyzed. Total RNA was extracted and amplified with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results were compared with those obtained in a cohort of 20 healthy donors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HERVs were significantly overexpressed in MF/SS patients compared with healthy donors. No differences were found between early and advanced CTCL stages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HERVs can act as promoters in MF/SS pathogenesis. It remains to link HERV hyperexpression to the outcome in CTCL patients.
authors.affiliation: Section of Dermatology, Department of Medical Sciences, Medical School, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fava
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergallo
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Astrua
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brizio
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Galliano
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Montanari
authors.forename: Pier Angelo
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Tovo
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Novelli
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Savoia
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Quaglino
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Fierro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016410:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral