title: Epstein Barr virus induces HERV-K and HERV-W expression in pediatrics liver transplant recipients?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human endogenous retrovirus (HER Vs) constitute approximately 8% of the human genome. Induction of HER V transcription is possible under certain circumstances, and may have a possible role in some pathological conditions. Aim of the present study was to verify whether HER V-W and K activation by Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) might occur also in vivo, during EBV infection, in pediatric liver transplant recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 35 pediatric liver transplant (LT) patients who received LT at the University Hospital City of Science and Health of Turin, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital were included. The samples were grouped in EBV negative and positive.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that HER V-K, and HER V-W expression levels showed no differences between the two groups (P=0.533 HERV-W and P=0.6017 HERV-K). There was not was a significant difference P=0.1894 and 0.1705 for HERV-W and -K respectively when we compared transplant recipients' group with high EBV viral load vs. others transplant recipients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that EBV does not facilitate in-vivo HERV activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, Medical School, University of Turin, Turin, Italy - massimiliano.bergallo@unito.it.|Laboratory of Citoimmunodiagnostics, Città della Salute e della Scienza, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Turin, Italy - massimiliano.bergallo@unito.it.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergallo
authors.affiliation: Unit of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Molinette Hospital, Città della Salute e della Scienza, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinon
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, Medical School, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.|Laboratory of Citoimmunodiagnostics, Città della Salute e della Scienza, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Galliano
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, Medical School, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.|Laboratory of Citoimmunodiagnostics, Città della Salute e della Scienza, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Montanari
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Citoimmunodiagnostics, Città della Salute e della Scienza, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Daprà
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Citoimmunodiagnostics, Città della Salute e della Scienza, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gambarino
authors.affiliation: Unit of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Molinette Hospital, Città della Salute e della Scienza, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Pier L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Calvo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000235:genetics*; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D019562:Viral Load; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C406149:HERV-K cORF protein, Human endogenous retrovirus K; D014764:Viral Proteins