• Journal of Life Science
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.400-404
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• 2001

A new human endogenous retroviral family (HERV-S) has recently been identified from human X chromosome. It is 6.7 kb in length and has a typical retroviral structure with LTR-gag-pol-env-LTR. Using the PCR and sequencing approach, we investigated LTR elements of the HERV-S family from a human genomic DNA. Four LTR elements (HSL-1, HSL-5, HSL-10, HSL-11) were identified and have a high degree of sequence similarity(96-99%) with that of the HERV-S. Phylogenetic analysis from the HERV-S family indicated that the LTR elements were mainly divided into 2- groups through evolutionary divergence in the primate evolution. Further investigation of the HERV-S LTR elements in primates may cast light on the integration timing into the primate genome and understanding of human evolution.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.771-777
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• 2021

Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) were inserted into the human genome millions of years ago but they are currently inactive and non-infectious due to recombinations, deletions, and mutations after insertion into the host genome. Nonetheless, recent studies have shown that HERV-derived elements are actually involved in physiological phenomena and certain diseases including cancers. Among the various physiological phenomena related to HERV-derived elements, it is necessary to focus on inflammatory response. HERV-derived elements have been reported to be directly involved in various inflammatory diseases, including autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Sjogren's syndrome. As a mechanism for regulating inflammation through HERV-derived elements, the possibility that HERV-derived elements may cause nonspecific innate immune processes and that HERV-derived RNA or proteins may cause selective signaling mechanisms through specific receptors can be considered. However, the mechanism through which HERV-derived elements regulate inflammatory response, such as how silent HERV elements are activated in inflammatory response and what factors and signaling mechanisms are involved in HERV-derived elements, have not been identified to date, making it difficult to study the onset of HERV-related inflammatory disease. In this review, we introduce HERV-related autoimmune diseases and propose the mechanisms of HERV-derived elements at the molecular level of HERV in inflammatory response.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.481-485
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• 2015

Retroviruses genes have been inserted into the human genome for millions of years. These retroviruses are now inactive due to mutations such as deletions or nonsense mutations. After mutation, retroviruses eventually became fixed in the genome in their endogenous forms and existed as traces of ancient viruses. These retroviruses are called endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), with the human form known as human endogenous retrovirus. HERV cannot become a fully active virus, but a number of viral proteins or even virus particles are expressed under various conditions. Compared to endogenous retroviruses, some exogenous retroviruses are still infectious and can threaten human life. Among these, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one of the most well-known and best-studied. Recent studies have shown some elements of HERV were activated by HIV infection and interact with HIV-derived proteins. In addition, many studies have attempted to use HERV as vaccination against HIV infection. This review will describe the regulation and interaction between HERV and HIV infection and mention the development of vaccines and therapeutic agents against HIV infection by using HERV elements.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2008

The endogenous retrovirus-like elements (HERVs) found on several human chromosomes are somehow involved in gene regulation, especially during the transcription level. HERV-H, located on chromosome Xp22, may regulate gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) in connection with diverse diseases. By suppression subtractive hybridization screen on SV40-immortalized lung fibroblast (WI-38 VA-13), we discovered that expression of HERV-HX2, a clustered HERV-H sequence on chromosome X, was upregulated in immortalized lung cells, compared to that of normal cells. Expression of HERV-HX2 was then analyzed in various cell lines, including normal somatic cells, cancer cells, SV40-immortalized cells, and undifferentiated and differentiated human embryonic stem cells. Expression of HERV-HX2 was specifically upregulated in continuously-dividing cells, such as cancer cells and SV40-immortalized cells. Especially, HERV-HX2 in HeLa cells was highly upregulated during the S phase of the cell cycle. Similar results were obtained in hES cells, in which undifferentiated cells expressed more HERV-HX2 mRNA than differentiated hES cells, including neural precursor and endothelial progenitor cells. Taken together, our results suggest that HERV-HX2 is upregulated in cancer cells and undifferentiated hES cells, whereas downregulated as differentiation progress. Therefore, we assume that HERV-HX2 may playa role on proliferation of cancer cells as well as differentiation of hES cells in the transcriptional level.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.99-103
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• 2009

Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several human diseases as multi-copy members in the human genome. Their gene expression profiling could provide us with important insights into the pathogenic relationship between HERVs and cancer. In this study, we have evaluated the genomic structure and quantitatively determined the expression patterns in the env gene of a variety of HERV family members located on six specific loci by the RetroTector 10 program, as well as real-time RT-PCR amplification. The env gene transcripts evidenced significant differences in the human tumor/normal adjacent tissues (colon, liver, uterus, lung and testis). As compared to the adjacent normal tissues, high levels of expression were noted in testis tumor tissues for HERV-K, in liver and lung tumor tissues for HERV-R, in liver, lung, and testis tumor tissues for HERV-H, and in colon and liver tumor tissues for HERV-P. These data warrant further studies with larger groups of patients to develop biomarkers for specific human cancers.

• Proceedings of the Korea Information Processing Society Conference
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• 2009.04a
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• pp.988-991
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• 2009

게놈 데이터의 지속적인 증가로 인해 생물정보학에서 유전체 정보를 체계적으로 저장하고 열람하는 효과적이고 효율적인 시스템을 확립하는 것은 중요한 일이다. 잘 알려진 게놈 정보의 계층적 구조처럼 우리는 게놈의 내부 구조를 연구하기 위한 우수한 툴도 필요하다. 게놈 연구에 있어서 한 가지 문제는 유전체 정보는 너무 거대해서 표준적인 정보 처리를 이용하는 간단한 툴로는 작업하기 어려운 점이다. 예를 들어 특정 게놈 데이터 크기는 100메가 바이트를 넘는다. 추가적으로 유전자, promoters, retro-elements(HERV), operons, exon-introns와 같은 많은 게놈 요소들이 있다. 전통적으로 생물학자 들은 게놈 연구를 위해 툴을 아무거나 사용하지 않고, 보통 그들의 연구에 좋은 툴을 채택하려 노력했다. 게놈 연구에서 기본적이고 주시할만한 단계는 다른 종과 유전체 요소를 비교하기 위해 위치를 인식할 수 있도록 하나의 화면에 모든 게놈 데이터를 시각화하는 것이다. 생물학자에게 툴의 개발은 많은 시간이 걸리고 시행착오를 겪기 쉬운 일이다. 이 논문에서 우리는 전체 게놈 중 어떤 게놈 요소를 시각화하는 컴포넌트 웨어의 셋을 제안한다. 그리하여 실험을 목적으로 생물학자를 만나서 우리의 셋을 이용하여 컴포넌트를 조합하여 소프트웨어를 만드는 것은 비교적 간단한 작업이다. 이 실험에서 우리는 HERV와 연동되는 게놈 요소를 보여주는 툴을 어떻게 우리의 컴포넌트 웨어를 간단히 조합하여 구축하는지를 보여주겠다.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.5 no.1 s.9
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• pp.12-19
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• 1999

This study proposes the following directions on the basis of results gained from a survey in Yamanasihyun Kawaguchikocho, where the herb festival is successfully held, in order to activate the local economy by herb. 1) The herb education for person in charge in the local authorities, the promoter of herb festival, has to be preceded and the local residents should try to understand what the herb is. 2) For a successful herb festival in the aspect of local economy and environmental conservation, detailed basic study and publicity including human -, natural environment, ecological conditions for herb should be peformed. 3) Herb event should have various programs and formats to arouse the user's interest and should be a place for environmental education.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.131.3-132
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• 2001

No Abstract, See Full Text