Viral sequence integration into introns of chemokine receptor genes

Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2009;31(4):589-94. doi: 10.3109/08923970902862284.

Abstract

Viral DNA sequences are able to integrate into the non-coding DNA sections of the genome of human cells which have been infected, either spontaneously or experimentally. We have made a data-base search for integration events of non-endogenous viruses into the introns of chemokine receptor sequences. A BLAST search of all viral DNA sequences, using the intronic sequences as "Query," returned several significant alignments. However, due to the high reiteration rate of the non-coding sequences in the human genome, it became necessary to re-examine the individual alignments to verify whether the virus-flanking intronic sequence was really located in a chemokine receptor intron. We found only one unquestionable event of viral insertion of a section of a long terminal repeat of the murine leukemia virus within the first intron of the CC chemokine receptor 7 gene. Possible biological effects of such an insertion are discussed. Further experimental or clinical research could demonstrate the occurrence of other intronic viral insertions in human chemokine receptor genes.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • DNA, Viral / genetics*
  • DNA, Viral / metabolism*
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Genetic Vectors / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Introns / genetics*
  • Leukemia Virus, Murine / genetics
  • Leukemia Virus, Murine / immunology
  • Mutagenesis, Insertional
  • Receptors, Chemokine / genetics*
  • Receptors, Chemokine / metabolism*
  • Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid
  • Virus Integration / genetics*

Substances

  • DNA, Viral
  • Receptors, Chemokine