Press Release

HERV-Derived Ervpb1 Is Conserved in Simiiformes, Exhibiting Expression in Hematopoietic Cell Lineages Including Macrophages

Abstract

(1) Background: The ERVPb1 gene in humans is derived from an envelope (Env) gene of a human endogenous retrovirus group, HERV-P(b). The ERVPb1 gene reportedly has a conserved open reading frame (ORF) in Old World monkeys. Although its forced expression led to cell-fusion in an ex vivo cell culture system, like other Env-derived genes such as syncytin-1 and -2, its mRNA expression is not placenta-specific, but almost ubiquitous, albeit being quite low in human tissues and organs, implying a distinct role for ERVPb1. (2) Methods: To elucidate the cell lineage(s) in which the ERVPb1 protein is translated in human development, we developed a novel, highly sensitive system for detecting HERV-derived proteins/peptides expressed in the tissue differentiation process of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). (3) Results: We first determined that ERVPb1 is also conserved in New World monkeys. Then, we showed that the ERVPb1 protein is translated from a uniquely spliced ERVPb1 transcript in hematopoietic cell lineages, including a subset of macrophages, and further showed that its mRNA expression is upregulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in primary human monocytes. (4) Conclusions: ERVPb1 is unique to Simiiformes and actually translated in hematopoietic cell lineages, including a subset of macrophages.

Journal Article

JOURNALInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences

TITLE:HERV-Derived Ervpb1 Is Conserved in Simiiformes, Exhibiting Expression in Hematopoietic Cell Lineages Including Macrophages
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22094504

Correspondence to

Fumitoshi ISHINO , Emeritus Professor
E-mail: fishino.epgn(at)mri.tmd.ac.jp

Ayumi Matsuzawa , Specially Appointed Assistant Professor
E-mail: amatepgn(at)tmd.ac.jp

Medical Research Institute,
Tokyo Medical and Dental University(TMDU)


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