Exploring HERV-K (HML-2) Influence in Cancer and Prospects for Therapeutic Interventions

doi:10.3390/ijms241914631

Review

. 2023 Sep 27;24(19):14631.

doi: 10.3390/ijms241914631.

Exploring HERV-K (HML-2) Influence in Cancer and Prospects for Therapeutic Interventions

Bárbara Costa^{1

2

3}, Nuno Vale^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ OncoPharma Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, s/n, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal.
² CINTESIS@RISE, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal.
³ Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, s/n, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal.

PMID: 37834078
PMCID: PMC10572383
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914631

Review

Exploring HERV-K (HML-2) Influence in Cancer and Prospects for Therapeutic Interventions

Bárbara Costa et al. Int J Mol Sci. 2023.

. 2023 Sep 27;24(19):14631.

doi: 10.3390/ijms241914631.

Authors

Bárbara Costa^{1

2

3}, Nuno Vale^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ OncoPharma Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, s/n, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal.
² CINTESIS@RISE, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal.
³ Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, s/n, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal.

PMID: 37834078
PMCID: PMC10572383
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914631

Abstract

This review investigates the intricate role of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) in cancer development and progression, explicitly focusing on HERV-K (HML-2). This paper sheds light on the latest research advancements and potential treatment strategies by examining the historical context of HERVs and their involvement in critical biological processes such as embryonic development, immune response, and disease progression. This review covers computational modeling for drug-target binding assessment, systems biology modeling for simulating HERV-K viral cargo dynamics, and using antiviral drugs to combat HERV-induced diseases. The findings presented in this review contribute to our understanding of HERV-mediated disease mechanisms and provide insights into future therapeutic approaches. They emphasize why HERV-K holds significant promise as a biomarker and a target.

Keywords: HERV-K (HML-2); antiviral drugs; cancer; human endogenous retrovirus; viral infection.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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References

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1. Posso-Osorio I., Tobón G.J., Cañas C.A. Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERV) and Non-HERV Viruses Incorporated into the Human Genome and Their Role in the Development of Autoimmune Diseases. J. Transl. Autoimmun. 2021;4:100137. doi: 10.1016/j.jtauto.2021.100137. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
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[1] Vargiu L., Rodriguez-Tomé P., Sperber G.O., Cadeddu M., Grandi N., Blikstad V., Tramontano E., Blomberg J. Classification and Characterization of Human Endogenous Retroviruses; Mosaic Forms are Common. Retrovirology. 2016;13:7. doi: 10.1186/s12977-015-0232-y. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[2] Vargiu L., Rodriguez-Tomé P., Sperber G.O., Cadeddu M., Grandi N., Blikstad V., Tramontano E., Blomberg J. Classification and Characterization of Human Endogenous Retroviruses; Mosaic Forms are Common. Retrovirology. 2016;13:7. doi: 10.1186/s12977-015-0232-y. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[3] Grandi N., Cadeddu M., Blomberg J., Tramontano E. Contribution of Type W Human Endogenous Retroviruses to the Human Genome: Characterization of HERV-W Proviral Insertions and Processed Pseudogenes. Retrovirology. 2016;13:67. doi: 10.1186/s12977-016-0301-x. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[4] Grandi N., Cadeddu M., Blomberg J., Tramontano E. Contribution of Type W Human Endogenous Retroviruses to the Human Genome: Characterization of HERV-W Proviral Insertions and Processed Pseudogenes. Retrovirology. 2016;13:67. doi: 10.1186/s12977-016-0301-x. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[5] Belshaw R., Pereira V., Katzourakis A., Talbot G., Pačes J., Burt A., Tristem M. Long-Term Reinfection of the Human Genome by Endogenous Retroviruses. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 2004;101:4894–4899. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0307800101. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[6] Belshaw R., Pereira V., Katzourakis A., Talbot G., Pačes J., Burt A., Tristem M. Long-Term Reinfection of the Human Genome by Endogenous Retroviruses. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 2004;101:4894–4899. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0307800101. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[7] Posso-Osorio I., Tobón G.J., Cañas C.A. Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERV) and Non-HERV Viruses Incorporated into the Human Genome and Their Role in the Development of Autoimmune Diseases. J. Transl. Autoimmun. 2021;4:100137. doi: 10.1016/j.jtauto.2021.100137. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[8] Posso-Osorio I., Tobón G.J., Cañas C.A. Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERV) and Non-HERV Viruses Incorporated into the Human Genome and Their Role in the Development of Autoimmune Diseases. J. Transl. Autoimmun. 2021;4:100137. doi: 10.1016/j.jtauto.2021.100137. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[9] Martin M.A., Bryan T., Rasheed S., Khan A.S. Identification and Cloning of Endogenous Retroviral Sequences Present in Human DNA. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 1981;78:4892–4896. doi: 10.1073/pnas.78.8.4892. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[10] Martin M.A., Bryan T., Rasheed S., Khan A.S. Identification and Cloning of Endogenous Retroviral Sequences Present in Human DNA. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 1981;78:4892–4896. doi: 10.1073/pnas.78.8.4892. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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Exploring HERV-K (HML-2) Influence in Cancer and Prospects for Therapeutic Interventions

Affiliations

Exploring HERV-K (HML-2) Influence in Cancer and Prospects for Therapeutic Interventions

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