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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs) and Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease: Is There a Link?

The Open Rheumatology Journal 22 Mar 2013 RESEARCH ARTICLE DOI: 10.2174/1874312901307010013

Abstract

Autoimmune rheumatic diseases, such as RA and SLE, are caused by genetic, hormonal and environmental factors. Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs) may be triggers of autoimmune rheumatic disease. HERVs are fossil viruses that began to be integrated into the human genome some 30-40 million years ago and now make up 8% of the genome. Evidence suggests HERVs may cause RA and SLE, among other rheumatic diseases. The key mechanisms by which HERVS are postulated to cause disease include molecular mimicry and immune dysregulation. Identification of HERVs in RA and SLE could lead to novel treatments for these chronic conditions. This review summarises the evidence for HERVs as contributors to autoimmune rheumatic disease and the clinical implications and mechanisms of pathogenesis are discussed.

Keywords: Human endogenous retrovirus, HERV, rheumatoid arthritis, molecular mimicry, bioinformatics..
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