Implication of human endogenous retroviruses in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
Abstract
Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are neuropsychiatric disorders of unknown origin. It seems that these two disorders share some common etiopathogenic mechanisms including genetic, environmental and inflammatory ones. Reactivation of the human endogenous retrovirus type W (HERV-W) can be a shared element in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, linked to immuno-genetic and environment risk factors. We will present studies that have highlighted the presence of HERV-W in schizophrenic and bipolar disorder patients. We will then describe a two-hit model which could explain the common pathophysiological mechanism of affective and non-affective psychosis. Identification of immuno-inflammatory mediated subgroup of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder associated to HERV-W reactivation might open the way for the development of diagnostic biomarker and more targeted treatments. These new tools pave the way towards personalized psychiatry for a better care of patients.
References
Endogenous retrovirus type W GAG and envelope protein antigenemia in serum of schizophrenic patients
Rare copy number variants: a point of rarity in genetic risk for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Influence of antipsychotic drugs on human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) transcription in brain cells.
Adjunctive recombinant human interferon gamma-1b for treatment-resistant schizophrenia in 2 patients
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