Roles of Human Endogenous Retrovirus-K-Encoded Np9 in Human Diseases: A Small Protein with Big Functions

Jiaojiao Fan; Zhiqiang Qin

doi:10.3390/v16040581

Roles of Human Endogenous Retrovirus-K-Encoded Np9 in Human Diseases: A Small Protein with Big Functions

Viruses. 2024 Apr 10;16(4):581. doi: 10.3390/v16040581.

Authors

Jiaojiao Fan¹, Zhiqiang Qin¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Pathology, Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W Markham St., Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.

Abstract

Human Endogenous Retrovirus Sequences (HERVs) constitute up to 8% of the human genome, yet not all HERVs remain silent passengers within our genomes. Some HERVs, especially HERV type K (HERV-K), have been found to be frequently transactivated in a variety of inflammatory diseases and human cancers. Np9, a small protein translated from the HERV-K env reading frame, has been reported as an oncogenic protein and is present in a variety of tumors and transformed cells. The Np9 protein can crosstalk with many cellular factors and is involved in the pathogenicity of various diseases, including some oncogenic virus infections. In the current review, we summarize recent findings about Np9 clinical relevance/implications, its mediated cellular functions/mechanisms, and potential targeted therapies in development.

Keywords: HERV-K; Np9; human diseases; retrovirus; treatment.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Animals
Endogenous Retroviruses* / genetics
Endogenous Retroviruses* / metabolism
Humans
Neoplasms* / virology

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Arkansas Bioscience Institute, the major research component of the Arkansas Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Act of 2000, and a DoD Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP) Concept Award (HT9425-23-1-0083) to Z.Q. Funding sources had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.