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IMPORTANT
- Traces of DNA from fossil viruses are present in our genome.
- Their reactivation is associated with an increased risk of developing certain psychiatric disorders.
- Expression of these endogenous human retroviruses would have an impact on brain function.
Our brains contain fossils: traces of viral infections that occurred hundreds of thousands of years ago. According to a study by King’s College London, the reactivation of these viruses could contribute to the occurrence of certain psychiatric disorders. The authors develop this thesis in the journal Nature Communications.
“Fossil viruses” are present in our genome
“About 8% of our genome consists of sequences called human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), which are the products of ancient viral infections that occurred hundreds of thousands of years ago.the authors explain in the press release. Until recently, it was thought that these ‘fossil viruses’ were just junk DNA, with no important function in the body..” In this work, the team used data from large genetic studies involving tens of thousands of people, with or without mental health problems. In parallel, they analyzed data from brain samples from autopsies of 800 people. The goal of the British scientists was to understand how DNA variations associated with psychiatric disorders affect HERV expression.
How do these DNA virus traces affect our mental health?
They found that “five robust expression signatures HERV” were associated with psychiatric disorders, including two associated with risk for schizophrenia, one with risk for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and one with risk for depression. Specifically, this means that when these specific sets of HERVs are expressed in the human brain, it increases the risk of developing certain psychiatric disorders. “Although it is not clear how these HERVs influence brain cells to cause this increased risk, our results suggest that the regulation of their expression is important for brain function.”comments Dr. Rodrigo Duarte, first author of the study and researcher from King’s College London.
Fossil viruses: towards better management of psychiatric disorders?
dr. Douglas Nixon, co-author of the study and researcher at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research at Northwell Health in the United States, reminds that additional research will be needed to understand the exact role of HERV in the occurrence of psychiatric disorders. However, he believes that this discovery could have important consequences in the future. “We believe that a better understanding of these ancient viruses and the known genes involved in psychiatric disorders has the potential to revolutionize mental health research and lead to new ways of treating or diagnosing these diseases.”he says.
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