Massimiliano Bergallo1, Ilaria Galliano2, Paola Montanari3, Stefano Gambarino4, Katia Mareschi5, Francesca Ferro6, Franca Fagioli7, Pier-Angelo Tovo8, Paolo Ravanini9. 1. Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Medical School, 10136 Turin, Italy; Laboratory of Citoimmunodiagnostics, University Hospital City of Science and Health of Turin, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Turin, Italy. Electronic address: massimiliano.bergallo@unito.it. 2. Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Medical School, 10136 Turin, Italy; Laboratory of Citoimmunodiagnostics, University Hospital City of Science and Health of Turin, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Turin, Italy. Electronic address: ilaria.galliano@unito.it. 3. Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Medical School, 10136 Turin, Italy; Laboratory of Citoimmunodiagnostics, University Hospital City of Science and Health of Turin, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Turin, Italy. Electronic address: paola.montanari@unito.it. 4. Laboratory of Citoimmunodiagnostics, University Hospital City of Science and Health of Turin, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Turin, Italy. Electronic address: gambarino.stefano@gmail.com. 5. Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Medical School, 10136 Turin, Italy; Pediatric Onco-Hematology, Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Division, City of Science and Health of Turin, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Turin, Italy. Electronic address: katia.mereschi@unito.it. 6. Laboratory of Citoimmunodiagnostics, University Hospital City of Science and Health of Turin, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Turin, Italy. Electronic address: ferro.francesca@libero.it. 7. Pediatric Onco-Hematology, Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Division, City of Science and Health of Turin, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Turin, Italy. Electronic address: franca.fagioli@unito.it. 8. Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Medical School, 10136 Turin, Italy; Laboratory of Citoimmunodiagnostics, University Hospital City of Science and Health of Turin, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Turin, Italy. Electronic address: pierangelo.tovo@unito.it. 9. Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Maggiore della Carità, Novara, Italy. Electronic address: paolo.ravanini@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Human endogenous retrovirus (HERVs) constitute approximately 8% of the human genome. Induction of HERV transcription is possible under certain circumstances, and may have a possible role in some pathological conditions. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate HERV-K and -W pol gene expression in kidney transplant recipients and to investigate the possible relationship between HERVs gene expression and CMV infection in these patients. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-three samples of kidney transplant patients and twenty healthy blood donors were used to analyze, HERV-K and -W pol gene RNA expression by relative quantitative relative Real-Time PCR. RESULT: We demonstrated that HERVs pol gene expression levels were higher in kidney transplant recipients than in healthy subjects. Moreover, HERV-K and -W pol gene expression was significantly higher in the group of kidney transplant recipients with high CMV viral load than in the groups with no or moderate CMV viral load. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that CMV may facilitate in vivo HERV activation. Published by Elsevier B.V.
BACKGROUND:Human endogenous retrovirus (HERVs) constitute approximately 8% of the human genome. Induction of HERV transcription is possible under certain circumstances, and may have a possible role in some pathological conditions. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate HERV-K and -W pol gene expression in kidney transplant recipients and to investigate the possible relationship between HERVs gene expression and CMV infection in these patients. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-three samples of kidney transplant patients and twenty healthy blood donors were used to analyze, HERV-K and -W pol gene RNA expression by relative quantitative relative Real-Time PCR. RESULT: We demonstrated that HERVs pol gene expression levels were higher in kidney transplant recipients than in healthy subjects. Moreover, HERV-K and -W pol gene expression was significantly higher in the group of kidney transplant recipients with high CMV viral load than in the groups with no or moderate CMV viral load. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that CMV may facilitate in vivo HERV activation. Published by Elsevier B.V.