HERVs Role in the Pathogenesis, Diagnosis or Prognosis of Aging Diseases: A Systematic Review

Introduction: HERVs are human endogenous retroviruses, which represent about 8% of the human genome, and have various physiological functions, especially in pregnancy, embryo development and placenta formation. However, their involvement in diseases is not well defined. Some studies have observed changes in HERV expression according to age. Objective: Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to analyze their role in pathogenesis and usage as diagnosis or prognosis biomarkers in aging disorders. Methods: In this study, a search on the Pubmed interface was performed for papers published from January 1953 to June 1st, 2021. Results: 45 articles have been included, which matched the eligibility criteria and evaluated the following diseases: breast cancer, prostate cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), osteoarthritis, Alzheimer's disease, immuno-senescence, cognitive impairment, cataract, glaucoma and hypertension. Conclusion: In conclusion, the results suggested that HERVs play a role in the pathogenesis and can be used as biomarkers for the diagnosis or prognosis of aging disorders.