Walchner M, Leib-Mösch C, Messer G, Kind P
Dermatologische Klinik und Poliklinik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München.
Hautarzt. 1996 Jul;47(7):502-9. doi: 10.1007/s001050050460.
Endogenous retroviral sequences (ERV) are integrated parts of the human genome. They make up at least 1% of the total genomic DNA. This pool of genetic material might help explain the long discussed role of retroviruses in autoimmune disease. Their proviral features suggest two possible models leading to autoimmune disease: the mobile insertion into a or near a somatic gene, changing its function, and the expression of proteins by ERV, which then might act as autoantigens or superantigens. These mechanisms are supported by prior studies of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In MRL-lpr/lpr mice with SLE-like disease the insertion of a mobile retroviral element, the early transposon (ETn), into the second intron of the fas gene leads to reduced apoptosis, accumulation of lymphocytes and earlier mortality. Investigations of murine and human SLE demonstrate autoantibodies against self-proteins, which crossreact with retroviral proteins. Future investigations may further establish the interrelation between the activation of endogenous retroviral sequences and SLE with its multifactorial genetic determinants.
内源性逆转录病毒序列（ERV）是人类基因组的整合部分。它们至少占基因组DNA总量的1%。这一基因库可能有助于解释长期以来讨论的逆转录病毒在自身免疫性疾病中的作用。它们的前病毒特征提示了导致自身免疫性疾病的两种可能模式：移动插入体细胞基因或其附近，改变其功能；ERV表达蛋白质，这些蛋白质随后可能作为自身抗原或超抗原发挥作用。这些机制得到了先前系统性红斑狼疮（SLE）研究的支持。在患有SLE样疾病的MRL-lpr/lpr小鼠中，一种移动逆转录病毒元件，即早期转座子（ETn），插入fas基因的第二个内含子，导致细胞凋亡减少、淋巴细胞积聚和更早死亡。对小鼠和人类SLE的研究表明，存在针对自身蛋白质的自身抗体，这些自身抗体与逆转录病毒蛋白发生交叉反应。未来的研究可能会进一步确立内源性逆转录病毒序列的激活与具有多因素遗传决定因素的SLE之间的相互关系。
