The causes of multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis have long remained elusive. A new category of pathogenic components, normally dormant within human genomes, has been identified: human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs). These represent ∼8% of the human genome, and environmental factors have reproducibly been shown to trigger their expression. The resulting production of envelope (Env) proteins from HERV-W and HERV-K appears to engage pathophysiological pathways leading to the pathognomonic features of MS and ALS, respectively. Pathogenic HERV elements may thus provide a missing link in understanding these complex diseases. Moreover, their neutralization may represent a promising strategy to establish novel and more powerful therapeutic approaches.

中文翻译：

---

人类内源性逆转录病毒在神经系统疾病中的作用。

长期以来，多发性硬化症和肌萎缩性侧索硬化的原因仍然难以捉摸。已经确定了通常在人类基因组内处于休眠状态的一类新的致病成分：人类内源性逆转录病毒（HERV）。它们约占人类基因组的8％，并且环境因子可再现地显示出可触发其表达。从HERV-W和HERV-K产生的包膜（Env）蛋白似乎参与了病理生理途径，分别导致MS和ALS的病理学特征。因此，致病性HERV元素可能为了解这些复杂疾病提供了一个缺失的环节。而且，它们的中和可能代表建立新的和更有效的治疗方法的有前途的策略。