ERVK Polyprotein Processing and Reverse Transcriptase Expression in Human Cell Line Models of Neurological Disease

Enhanced expression of the reverse transcriptase (RT) protein encoded by human endogenous retrovirus-K (ERVK) is a promising biomarker for several inflammatory and neurological diseases. However, unlike RT enzymes encoded by exogenous retroviruses, little work has been done to identify ERVK RT isofo...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mamneet Manghera, Jennifer Ferguson, Renée Douville
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2015-01-01
Series:Viruses
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/7/1/320
_version_ 1818979725828161536
author Mamneet Manghera
Jennifer Ferguson
Renée Douville
author_facet Mamneet Manghera
Jennifer Ferguson
Renée Douville
author_sort Mamneet Manghera
collection DOAJ
description Enhanced expression of the reverse transcriptase (RT) protein encoded by human endogenous retrovirus-K (ERVK) is a promising biomarker for several inflammatory and neurological diseases. However, unlike RT enzymes encoded by exogenous retroviruses, little work has been done to identify ERVK RT isoforms, their expression patterns, and cellular localization. Using Western blot, we showcase the ERVK gag-pro-pol polyprotein processing leading to the production of several ERVK RT isoforms in human neuronal (ReNcell CX) and astrocytic (SVGA) models of neuroinflammatory disease. Since the pro-inflammatory cytokine IFNγ plays a key role in the pathology of several ERVK-associated neurological diseases, we sought to determine if IFNγ can drive ERVK RT expression. IFNγ signalling markedly enhanced ERVK polyprotein and RT expression in both human astrocytes and neurons. RT isoforms were expressed in a cell-type specific pattern and the RT-RNase H form was significantly increased with IFNγ treatment. Fluorescent imaging revealed distinct cytoplasmic, perinuclear and nuclear ERVK RT staining patterns upon IFNγ stimulation of astrocytes and neurons. These findings indicate that ERVK expression is inducible under inflammatory conditions such as IFNγ exposure—and thus, these newly established in vitro models may be useful in exploring ERVK biology in the context of neuroinflammatory disease.
first_indexed 2024-12-20T17:04:06Z
format Article
id doaj.art-e94c72f66d864151b2728488e0218197
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1999-4915
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-20T17:04:06Z
publishDate 2015-01-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Viruses
spelling doaj.art-e94c72f66d864151b2728488e02181972022-12-21T19:32:24ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152015-01-017132033210.3390/v7010320v7010320ERVK Polyprotein Processing and Reverse Transcriptase Expression in Human Cell Line Models of Neurological DiseaseMamneet Manghera0Jennifer Ferguson1Renée Douville2Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2E9, CanadaDepartment of Biology, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2E9, CanadaDepartment of Biology, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2E9, CanadaEnhanced expression of the reverse transcriptase (RT) protein encoded by human endogenous retrovirus-K (ERVK) is a promising biomarker for several inflammatory and neurological diseases. However, unlike RT enzymes encoded by exogenous retroviruses, little work has been done to identify ERVK RT isoforms, their expression patterns, and cellular localization. Using Western blot, we showcase the ERVK gag-pro-pol polyprotein processing leading to the production of several ERVK RT isoforms in human neuronal (ReNcell CX) and astrocytic (SVGA) models of neuroinflammatory disease. Since the pro-inflammatory cytokine IFNγ plays a key role in the pathology of several ERVK-associated neurological diseases, we sought to determine if IFNγ can drive ERVK RT expression. IFNγ signalling markedly enhanced ERVK polyprotein and RT expression in both human astrocytes and neurons. RT isoforms were expressed in a cell-type specific pattern and the RT-RNase H form was significantly increased with IFNγ treatment. Fluorescent imaging revealed distinct cytoplasmic, perinuclear and nuclear ERVK RT staining patterns upon IFNγ stimulation of astrocytes and neurons. These findings indicate that ERVK expression is inducible under inflammatory conditions such as IFNγ exposure—and thus, these newly established in vitro models may be useful in exploring ERVK biology in the context of neuroinflammatory disease.http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/7/1/320endogenous retrovirusreverse transcriptaseastrocyteneuronneurological diseaseinflammationIFNγ
spellingShingle Mamneet Manghera
Jennifer Ferguson
Renée Douville
ERVK Polyprotein Processing and Reverse Transcriptase Expression in Human Cell Line Models of Neurological Disease
Viruses
endogenous retrovirus
reverse transcriptase
astrocyte
neuron
neurological disease
inflammation
IFNγ
title ERVK Polyprotein Processing and Reverse Transcriptase Expression in Human Cell Line Models of Neurological Disease
title_full ERVK Polyprotein Processing and Reverse Transcriptase Expression in Human Cell Line Models of Neurological Disease
title_fullStr ERVK Polyprotein Processing and Reverse Transcriptase Expression in Human Cell Line Models of Neurological Disease
title_full_unstemmed ERVK Polyprotein Processing and Reverse Transcriptase Expression in Human Cell Line Models of Neurological Disease
title_short ERVK Polyprotein Processing and Reverse Transcriptase Expression in Human Cell Line Models of Neurological Disease
title_sort ervk polyprotein processing and reverse transcriptase expression in human cell line models of neurological disease
topic endogenous retrovirus
reverse transcriptase
astrocyte
neuron
neurological disease
inflammation
IFNγ
url http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/7/1/320
work_keys_str_mv AT mamneetmanghera ervkpolyproteinprocessingandreversetranscriptaseexpressioninhumancelllinemodelsofneurologicaldisease
AT jenniferferguson ervkpolyproteinprocessingandreversetranscriptaseexpressioninhumancelllinemodelsofneurologicaldisease
AT reneedouville ervkpolyproteinprocessingandreversetranscriptaseexpressioninhumancelllinemodelsofneurologicaldisease