Anti-HERV-WEnv antibodies are correlated with seroreactivity against Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in children and youths at T1D risk

Sci Rep. 2019 Apr 18;9(1):6282. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-42788-5.

Abstract

Recent evidence points at the role that human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) may play through the activation of genes integrated across the human genome. Although a variety of genetic/epigenetic mechanisms maintain most HERVs silenced, independent environmental stimuli including infections may transactivate endogenous elements favoring pathogenic conditions. Several studies associated exposures to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) with increased anti-MAP seroreactivity in T1D patients. Here, we assessed humoral responses against HERV envelope antigens (HERV-KEnv and HERV-WEnv) and four MAP-derived peptides with human homologs in distinct populations: Sardinian children at T1D risk (rT1D) (n = 14), rT1D from mainland Italy (n = 54) and Polish youths with T1D (n = 74) or obesity unrelated to autoimmunity (OB) (n = 26). Unlike Sardinian rT1D, youths displayed increased anti-HERV-WEnv Abs prevalence compared to age-matched OB or healthy controls (24.32 vs. 11.54%, p = 0.02 for Polish T1D/OB and 31.48 vs. 11.90%, p = 0.0025 for Italian rT1D). Anti-HERV-KEnv responses showed variable trends across groups. A strong correlation between Abs levels against HERV-WEnv and homologous peptides was mirrored by time-related Abs patterns. Elevated values registered for HERV-WEnv overlaped with or preceded the detection of T1D diagnostic autoantibodies. These results support the hypothesis of MAP infection leading to HERV-W antigen expression and enhancing the production of autoantibodies in T1D.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / blood
  • Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / immunology
  • Autoantibodies / genetics
  • Autoantibodies / immunology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / immunology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / virology
  • Endogenous Retroviruses / genetics
  • Endogenous Retroviruses / immunology*
  • Epitopes / genetics
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • Female
  • Gene Products, env / genetics
  • Gene Products, env / immunology
  • Genome, Human / genetics
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Male
  • Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis / immunology*
  • Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis / pathogenicity
  • Paratuberculosis / blood
  • Paratuberculosis / complications
  • Paratuberculosis / immunology*
  • Paratuberculosis / virology
  • Peptides / genetics
  • Peptides / immunology
  • Pregnancy Proteins / genetics
  • Pregnancy Proteins / immunology
  • Transcriptional Activation / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic
  • Autoantibodies
  • Epitopes
  • Gene Products, env
  • Peptides
  • Pregnancy Proteins
  • syncytin