Viruses and Endogenous Retroviruses as Roots for Neuroinflammation and Neurodegenerative Diseases.

ABSTRACT: Many neurodegenerative diseases are associated with chronic inflammation in the brain and periphery giving rise to a continuous imbalance of immune processes. Next to inflammation markers, activation of transposable elements, including long intrespersed nuclear elements (LINE) elements and endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), has been identified during neurodegenerative disease progression and even correlated with the clinical severity of the disease. ERVs are remnants of viral infections in the human genome acquired during evolution. Upon activation, they produce transcripts and the phylogenetically youngest ones are still able to produce viral-like particles. In addition, ERVs can bind transcription factors and modulate immune response. Being between own and foreign, ERVs are reviewed in the

SUBMITTER: Romer C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7994506 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature