EXPRESSION OF ENDOGENOUS HUMAN RETROVIRUSES (HERVs) DUE TO AGE: POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTION TO INFLAMMAGING?

• Grant number: 24/05545-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2024
• End date: July 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Henrique da Silva Nali
• Grantee: Pablo Fortunato da Silva
• Host Institution: Universidade de Santo Amaro (UNISA). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: HERVs are present in 8% of the human genome, being remnants of past viral infections that generated integrations into the human genome throughout the evolution of the Mendelian form. Although many HERVs are considered inactive and nonfunctional, they are not expressed. Recent studies have revealed that some of the HERVs, mainly HERV-K and HERV-W, have their expression directly linked to the pathophysiology of diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, some types cancer and even COVID-19. Therefore, there is a need to better understand whether age has any relationship with the expression of these HERVs and whether the difference in cytokine levels, possibly leading to a concentration of these individuals, can be correlated with their expression. Additional studies are necessary to better understand the mechanisms underlying the expression of HERVs and their impact on health during aging.