HERV-K

HERVK is related with several tumors such as passenger virus, and anti-Retroviral therapy against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/ALS has exhibited to decrease the symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/ALS. High counts of viral sequences exist in the human genome but stay silent. Though, in pathological conditions, these viruses are produced. Human Endogenous Retrovirus-K, is produced in neurons of a subpopulation of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease. The envelope protein of this HERV results in degeneration of neurons, and transgenic animals producing this protein advance an ALS-like syndrome triggered by nucleolar dysfunction in motor neurons. Reactivation of the HERVK is controlled by the transcription factor TDP-43. Therefore, therapeutic tactics against this virus alter the course of the disease.