About this Research Topic
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are remnants of ancient exogenous retroviruses that integrated into the germline of ancestral humans. They inherit vertically according to the Mendelian inheritance pattern, and have accounted for approximately 8-10% of the human genome after long-term accumulation. During the evolution, they have had close interactions with the host genome and have contributed greatly to the human genetic evolution and regulated cell type-specific gene expression. While co-evolving with humans for over millions of years, historically they were once considered non-functional "junk DNA". Subsequently, these elements have been revealed to play crucial roles in human health and diseases. Emerging evidence suggests that aberrant activation and expression of ERV elements are implicated in human placenta and trophoblast development and various human diseases, including cancers. Specifically, the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) transcribed from these HERV elements have garnered attention for their regulatory roles. LncRNAs, typically over 200 nucleotides in length, interact with DNA, RNA, and proteins to influence gene expression and cellular function. In addition, the dysregulation of ERV and ERV-derived lncRNAs has been observed to have both tumor-suppressive and oncogenic effects, underlining their bidirectional functionality. Given their significant role, ERV-derived elements present a promising avenue for the development of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in human health and disease research.
Given the importance of ERV-derived elements in human physiology and pathology, this Research Topic aims to delve into the origins, evolutionary dynamics of ERV in human and other primates. Further, we seek to explore the physiological and pathological mechanisms underlying ERV aberrant activation. We also aim to highlight the potential roles of the ERV and ERV-derived elements, including their involvement in immunomodulation, maintenance of pluripotency, and erythropoiesis, thereby extending our understanding of their potential as therapeutic targets.
In this Research Topic, we encourage authors to contribute high-quality Original Research, Review, Mini-Review, Methods, and Perspective articles that include but are not limited to the following topics:
- ERV origins, evolutionary dynamics and aberrant genetic expression including reaction and resurrection.
- Identification and characterization of novel ERV-derived biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
- Regulation, epigenetic control and fundamental mechanism on the concise relationship between ERV-derived lncRNAs and human diseases.
- Functional bidirectionality of ERV-derived lncRNAs, with a focus on their tumor-suppressive or oncogenic effect.
Given the importance of ERV-derived elements in human physiology and pathology, this Research Topic aims to delve into the origins, evolutionary dynamics of ERV in human and other primates. Further, we seek to explore the physiological and pathological mechanisms underlying ERV aberrant activation. We also aim to highlight the potential roles of the ERV and ERV-derived elements, including their involvement in immunomodulation, maintenance of pluripotency, and erythropoiesis, thereby extending our understanding of their potential as therapeutic targets.
In this Research Topic, we encourage authors to contribute high-quality Original Research, Review, Mini-Review, Methods, and Perspective articles that include but are not limited to the following topics:
- ERV origins, evolutionary dynamics and aberrant genetic expression including reaction and resurrection.
- Identification and characterization of novel ERV-derived biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
- Regulation, epigenetic control and fundamental mechanism on the concise relationship between ERV-derived lncRNAs and human diseases.
- Functional bidirectionality of ERV-derived lncRNAs, with a focus on their tumor-suppressive or oncogenic effect.
Keywords: Endogenous retrovirus, Long non-coding RNA, Therapeutic targets, Origin and Evolution, Genetic expression
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
