Endogenous Retrovirus Active in ALS

Researchers uncover evidence that a retrovirus embedded within the human genome may play a role in the pathology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

| 3 min read

Register for free to listen to this article
Listen with Speechify
0:00
3:00
Share

Transgenic mice expressing the HERV-K env gene suffered neurodegeneration and motor symptoms characteristic of ALS.AVINDRA NATHAn endogenous human retrovirus called HERV-K is expressed at higher levels in the brains of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients than in those of controls, and the virus is toxic to human neurons in culture, according to a study published this week (September 30) in Science Translational Medicine. Researchers further showed that mice expressing the HERV-K envelope gene develop symptoms of ALS, suggesting that the retrovirus may play a causal role in neurodegeneration.

“The new study is substantial and impressive in that it has employed a wide range of powerful in vivo and in vitro molecular biological, immunological, genetic, and other techniques,” Jeremy Garson, a medical virologist at University College London who was not involved in the work, wrote in an email. “The new data presented in the paper represents a significant contribution to our understanding of the potential role of endogenous retroviruses in neurological disease.”

“It’s a very, very important paper,” said Mount Sinai’s Daniel MacGowan, who also did not participate in the research. But, he added, “it didn’t show the smoking gun [at the molecular level] so there’s still the possibility that it’s an epiphenomenon. . . . We need more brain samples.”

In 2006, neurovirologist ...

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

The Scientist Logo
Receive full access to more than 35 years of archives, as well as TS Digest, digital editions of The Scientist, feature stories, and much more!
Already a member? Login Here

Keywords

Meet the Author

  • Jef Akst

    Jef Akst was managing editor of The Scientist, where she started as an intern in 2009 after receiving a master’s degree from Indiana University in April 2009 studying the mating behavior of seahorses.
Share
3D illustration of a gold lipid nanoparticle with pink nucleic acid inside of it. Purple and teal spikes stick out from the lipid bilayer representing polyethylene glycol.
February 2025, Issue 1

A Nanoparticle Delivery System for Gene Therapy

A reimagined lipid vehicle for nucleic acids could overcome the limitations of current vectors.

View this Issue
Enhancing Therapeutic Antibody Discovery with Cross-Platform Workflows

Enhancing Therapeutic Antibody Discovery with Cross-Platform Workflows

sartorius logo
Considerations for Cell-Based Assays in Immuno-Oncology Research

Considerations for Cell-Based Assays in Immuno-Oncology Research

Lonza
An illustration of animal and tree silhouettes.

From Water Bears to Grizzly Bears: Unusual Animal Models

Taconic Biosciences
Sex Differences in Neurological Research

Sex Differences in Neurological Research

bit.bio logo

Products

Photo of a researcher overseeing large scale production processes in a laboratory.

Scaling Lentiviral Vector Manufacturing for Optimal Productivity

Thermo Fisher Logo
Collage-style urban graphic of wastewater surveillance and treatment

Putting Pathogens to the Test with Wastewater Surveillance

An illustration of an mRNA molecule in front of a multicolored background.

Generating High-Quality mRNA for In Vivo Delivery with lipid nanoparticles

Thermo Fisher Logo
Tecan Logo

Tecan introduces Veya: bringing digital, scalable automation to labs worldwide