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Korean Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (생화학분자생물학회)
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Expression profiles of human endogenous retrovirus (HERV)-K and HERV-R Env proteins in various cancers

  • Ko, Eun-Ji (Department of Parasitology and Genetics, Kosin University College of Medicine) ;
  • Song, Kyoung Seob (Department of Physiology, Kosin University College of Medicine) ;
  • Ock, Mee Sun (Department of Parasitology and Genetics, Kosin University College of Medicine) ;
  • Choi, Yung Hyun (Department of Biochemistry, College of Oriental Medicine, Dongeui University) ;
  • Kim, Suhkmann (Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University) ;
  • Kim, Heui-Soo (Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University) ;
  • Cha, Hee-Jae (Department of Parasitology and Genetics, Kosin University College of Medicine)
  • Received : 2020.11.10
  • Accepted : 2021.02.21
  • Published : 2021.07.31
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Abstract

The vertebrate genome contains an endogenous retrovirus that has been inherited from the past millions of years. Although approximately 8% of human chromosomal DNA consists of sequences derived from human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) fragments, most of the HERVs are currently inactive and noninfectious due to recombination, deletions, and mutations after insertion into the host genome. Several studies suggested that Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) factors are significantly related to certain cancers. However, only limited studies have been conducted to analyze the expression of HERV derived elements at protein levels in certain cancers. Herein, we analyzed the expression profiles of HERV-K envelope (Env) and HERV-R Env proteins in eleven different kinds of cancer tissues. Furthermore, the expression patterns of both protein and correlation with various clinical data in each tissue were analyzed. The expressions of both HERV-K Env and HERV-R Env protein were identified to be significantly high in most of the tumors compared with normal surrounding tissues. Correlations between HERV Env expressions and clinical investigations varied depending on the HERV types and cancers. Overall expression patterns of HERV-K Env and HERV-R Env proteins were different in every individual but a similar pattern of expressions was observed in the same individual. These results demonstrate the expression profiles of HERV-K and HERV-R Env proteins in various cancer tissues and provide a good reference for the association of endogenous retroviral Env proteins in the progression of various cancers. Furthermore, the results elucidate the relationship between HERV-Env expression and the clinical significance of certain cancers.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation Grant funded by the Korean Government (NRF-2016R1D1A3B01007444).

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