人内源性逆转录病毒（HERV）是一类由古代逆转录病毒整合到种系基因组中形成的转座元件。它们以孟德尔方式遗传，约占人类基因组的 8%。几十年来，HERV 一直被认为是“垃圾 DNA”，但越来越多的证据表明，它们在病理炎症、神经分化和肿瘤发生中发挥着重要作用。具体来说，HERV 的表达与多种致癌过程和肿瘤微环境的形成有关。事实上，HERV 在癌症中的双重作用，既作为肿瘤发生的促进者，又作为先天抗肿瘤免疫反应的先驱，仍然是一个争论的话题。在这篇综述中，我们将讨论 HERV 如何参与癌症进展以及它们如何受到调节。我们的目标是全面了解 HERV 在传播肿瘤发生和激活抗肿瘤免疫反应中的基本特性和潜在功能。我们希望更新的知识将重塑我们对 HERV 在人类进化和癌症进展中所发挥的关键作用的理解。版权所有 © 2024。由 Elsevier B.V. 出版。

Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are a class of transposable elements formed by the integration of ancient retroviruses into the germline genome. They are inherited in a Mendelian manner and approximately constitute 8 % of the human genome. HERVs were considered as "junk DNA" for decades, but increasing evidence suggests that they play significant roles in pathological inflammation, neural differentiation, and oncogenesis. Specifically, HERVs expression has been implicated in several oncogenic processes and the formation of the tumor microenvironment. Indeed, the dual roles of HERVs in cancer, serving as both promoters of oncogenesis and forerunners of the innate antitumor immune response, remain a subject of debate. In this review, we will discuss how HERVs participate in cancer progression and how they are regulated. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental properties and potential function of HERVs in propagating oncogenesis and activating the antitumor immune response. We hope that updated knowledge will reshape our understanding of the critical roles played by HERVs in human evolution and cancer progression.Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.