Endogenous retroviruses can propagate TDP-43 proteinopathy

Maria E Ferreiro; Geoffrey J Faulkner

doi:10.1016/j.tins.2023.03.011

Endogenous retroviruses can propagate TDP-43 proteinopathy

Trends Neurosci. 2023 Jun;46(6):413-414. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.03.011. Epub 2023 Apr 14.

Authors

Maria E Ferreiro¹, Geoffrey J Faulkner²

Affiliations

¹ Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4067, Australia.
² Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4067, Australia; Mater Research Institute - University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia. Electronic address: faulknergj@gmail.com.

PMID: 37061454
DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.03.011

Abstract

How does neurodegeneration spread in the brain? Leveraging TDP-43 fly models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Chang and Dubnau recently reported that the endogenous retrovirus (ERV) mdg4 can trigger and transmit TDP-43 proteinopathy in vivo. Their results suggest that human ERVs could be targeted to develop future ALS therapies.

Keywords: ALS; ERV; FTD; HERV-K; mdg4; neurodegeneration.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis* / genetics
Brain
Endogenous Retroviruses* / genetics
Humans
TDP-43 Proteinopathies* / genetics