Antiretroviral retrovirus
Ancient retrovirus in our genome helps fight HIV
A group of scientists from Kumamoto University, led by Dr. Kazuaki Monde, figured out why the antigens of the HERV-K family of endogenous retroviruses, released in an infected T-cell of our immune system, reduce the number and activity of HIV copies produced by it. The article on the results of this study, published in the journal Retrovirology (Monde et al., Molecular mechanisms by which HERV-K Gag interferes with HIV-1 Gag assembly and particle infection), is retold by a press release from Kumamoto University Ancient retrovirus embedded in the human genome helps fight HIV-1 infection.
Retroviruses (RNA-containing viruses), once embedded in the DNA of our ancestors, now make up up to 8% of our genome. Such viruses are called endogenous. Over millions of years, they have been deactivated as a result of mutations and the loss of individual "letters" from the genetic code. However, scientists have noticed that HIV-infected t cells of the immune system begin to produce antibodies also against some endogenous retroviruses, including those belonging to the HERV-K family.
Apparently, HIV causes the expression of endogenous retroviruses (that is, it brings them out of their "dormant" state) Hence, the idea arose to direct the action of potential AIDS drugs specifically to HERV-K, and not to HIV, which is constantly mutating.
Dr. Monde and colleagues found out that the joint synthesis of HERV-K (HERV-K Gag) and HIV-1 (HIV-1 Gag) antigens in the cell leads to a decrease in the amount and activity of the second virus released. This is because the capsids (viral shells) of HERV-K Gag and HIV-1 Gag in the cell membrane partially overlap, i.e., roughly speaking, one of the capsids "does not have enough space".
This discovery may help in the development of a cure for AIDS.
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03.07.2017