Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41041334›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in immunology2025

HERV-K10 as a mediator of immune modulation in hepatitis infections.

Salih Özer, Romano Strobelt, Anna D Kosinska, Goar Frishman, Jochen M Wettengel, Lisa Pleninger, Nina Körber, Wen Liang, Edanur Ates Öz, Marisol Zuniga and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in immunology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Salih ÖzerInstitute of Virology, Helmholtz Munich, Munich, Germany.
Romano StrobeltInstitute of Virology, Helmholtz Munich, Munich, Germany.
Anna D KosinskaInstitute of Virology, Helmholtz Munich, Munich, Germany.
Goar FrishmanInstitute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Munich, Munich, Germany.
Jochen M WettengelInstitute of Virology, Helmholtz Munich, Munich, Germany.
Lisa PleningerInstitute of Virology, Helmholtz Munich, Munich, Germany.
Nina KörberInstitute of Virology, Helmholtz Munich, Munich, Germany.
Wen LiangInstitute of Virology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.
Edanur Ates ÖzInstitute of Virology, Helmholtz Munich, Munich, Germany.
Marisol ZunigaInstitute of Virology, Helmholtz Munich, Munich, Germany.
Tanja BauerInstitute of Virology, Helmholtz Munich, Munich, Germany.
Gregor EbertInstitute of Virology, Helmholtz Munich, Munich, Germany.
Ulrike ProtzerInstitute of Virology, Helmholtz Munich, Munich, Germany.
Michelle VincendeauInstitute of Virology, Helmholtz Munich, Munich, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The human genome contains ~8% of endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), whose reactivation has been implicated in diseases such as cancer and autoimmune disorders. Among these, HERV-K10 has attracted attention for its potential role in immune modulation and viral infections. This study investigates HERV-K10 expression in hepatitis virus infections, focusing on its impact on host gene expression and immune responses. We analyzed HERV-K10 in PBMCs from patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and in HBV-infected liver cell models. Our results show a significant upregulation of HERV-K10 in HBV-infected HepG2-NTCP cells, HCV-infected PBMCs, and a trend in HBV-infected primary hepatocytes. HERV-K10 activation was specific to hepatitis infection, as no effect was seen with HBV entry inhibitors, adenovirus 5 infection or infection with other RNA viruses. RNA sequencing of HBV-infected HepG2-NTCP cells revealed distinct clustering based on HERV expression profiles, including HERV-K10 encoding the MAG1 domain, an immune response target. To investigate the potential immunomodulatory role of HERV-K10 MAG1, we vaccinated mice with the MAG1 peptide, which resulted in activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses and higher levels of MAG1-specific antibodies. Furthermore, chronic hepatitis B patients exhibited an immune response to MAG1 characterized by elevated levels of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) cytokines. Taken together, our data suggest that HERV-K10 plays an important role in immune modulation during viral hepatitis infection and may contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.

Indexed as

Endogenous RetrovirusesHepatitis B, ChronicHepatitis C, ChronicImmunomodulationAnimalsCD8-Positive T-LymphocytesFemaleHepacivirusHepatitis B virusHep G2 CellsHumansMaleMiceautoimmune diseasesGag1/MAG1hepatitisHERV-K10HERVsimmune modulation

Identifiers

PMID41041334
PMCPMC12484233

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.