International Journal of Life Sciences and Biotech
Investigation of the Relationship of Human Endogenous Retroviruses with Cancer
Investigation of the Relationship of Human Endogenous Retroviruses with Cancer
Authors: Abdullah Karaman, Elif Karlık
Abstract: Transposons are mobile elements of DNA that have the ability to change their locations in the genome. Transposons perform the displacement process in the genome by a mechanism called transposition and are divided into two subclasses as DNA and RNA transposons according to their transposition mechanism. RNA transposons also called retrotransposons including endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) that play an important role in human evolution. Human endogenous retroviruses (HERV) constituting about 8% of the human genome are grouped under 3 classes. Human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K) in the second class is the most active HERV in the human genome considered to integrate in human genome in a close time. It is observed that HERV-K plays a role in the emergence of various cancer types such as ovarian, breast and skin cancer. The relationship of HERVs to cancer development has been investigated for a long time. Although HERV proteins were detected in cancer cells, the role of HERVs in cancer development has not been clearly understood. Recent studies revealed that HERV proteins in high levels in cancer cells can be used as the main target for the immune response involved in cancer therapy. New approaches in combination of histone deacetylase inhibitors and checkpoint inhibitors are also being tested for use in cancer therapy. HERV expression initiates the immune system response by activating the pattern recognition receptors of single-stranded RNA in the cytosol, activating the interferon type 1 response. As a result, it is predicted that cancer development can be prevented by increasing the recognition of cancer cells by CD8 T cells. This new approach consisting of a combination of histone deacetylase and checkpoint inhibitors will increase its anti-tumor activity and provide new hope in cancer therapy. In this review, we will summarize recent studies revealing the effects of HERVs on cancer formation, and new treatment approaches related to HERVs will be examined.
Keywords: Transposons, Human endogenous retroviruses, Cancer
Investigation of the Relationship of Human Endogenous Retroviruses with Cancer
Investigation of the Relationship of Human Endogenous Retroviruses with Cancer
Authors: Abdullah Karaman, Elif Karlık
Abstract: Transposons are mobile elements of DNA that have the ability to change their locations in the genome. Transposons perform the displacement process in the genome by a mechanism called transposition and are divided into two subclasses as DNA and RNA transposons according to their transposition mechanism. RNA transposons also called retrotransposons including endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) that play an important role in human evolution. Human endogenous retroviruses (HERV) constituting about 8% of the human genome are grouped under 3 classes. Human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K) in the second class is the most active HERV in the human genome considered to integrate in human genome in a close time. It is observed that HERV-K plays a role in the emergence of various cancer types such as ovarian, breast and skin cancer. The relationship of HERVs to cancer development has been investigated for a long time. Although HERV proteins were detected in cancer cells, the role of HERVs in cancer development has not been clearly understood. Recent studies revealed that HERV proteins in high levels in cancer cells can be used as the main target for the immune response involved in cancer therapy. New approaches in combination of histone deacetylase inhibitors and checkpoint inhibitors are also being tested for use in cancer therapy. HERV expression initiates the immune system response by activating the pattern recognition receptors of single-stranded RNA in the cytosol, activating the interferon type 1 response. As a result, it is predicted that cancer development can be prevented by increasing the recognition of cancer cells by CD8 T cells. This new approach consisting of a combination of histone deacetylase and checkpoint inhibitors will increase its anti-tumor activity and provide new hope in cancer therapy. In this review, we will summarize recent studies revealing the effects of HERVs on cancer formation, and new treatment approaches related to HERVs will be examined.
Keywords: Transposons, Human endogenous retroviruses, Cancer