Analysis of the profiles of human endogenous retroviruses W, K, and H and the systemic inflammatory status in vitiligo patients: insights on the dynamics of endogenous retroviral expression and its interplay with inflammatory response

Introduction: Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are ancient retroviruses that infected the germline cells of our ancestors millions of years ago. Due to the typical replication process, they have endogenized and are fixed in the host genome, and at present, HERVs comprise approximately 8% of the human genome. HERVs play several roles in human physiology, but they are also involved in certain diseases, particularly in autoimmune diseases. However, there is limited information regarding the interplay of HERVs on vitiligo. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the frequency and the expression levels of HERV-W, HERV-K, and HERV-H, as well as the circulating levels of the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, in patients with vitiligo. Methods: method. Circulating levels of anti-HERV-W antibodies were assessed using an "in-house" ELISA. Moreover, the systemic pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IFN-λ1 and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 were quantified using commercial ELISA kits. Results: higher than those with stable lesions p<0.001. Conclusions: might be used as a biomarker of the disease and may be linked to the worsening of vitiligo lesions. Altogether, our results support the involvement of HERV elements in vitiligo and warrant further investigation into their mechanistic contribution.