内源性逆转录病毒在人类健康及衰老中的作用和机制研究

Investigating the Role and Mechanisms of Endogenous Retroviruses in Human Health and Aging

在特定的发育阶段,如早期胚胎发育和胎盘发生,内源性逆转录病毒(ERV)元件的激活参与相关基因表达调控。在胚胎发育后期,受表观遗传调控等因素影响,ERV通常处于转录沉默状态,而异常的ERV转录激活则与癌症、神经退行和自身免疫等疾病的发生发展有关。然而,ERV在衰老过程中的作用机制尚不明确。通过搭建跨细胞、组织和物种衰老的系统性研究模型,并结合多学科交叉技术,揭示ERV复活作为衰老生物标志物和驱动因素的独特作用和机制,并据此发展一系列延缓组织器官退行和衰老的新型干预手段。相关研究扩展了人们对于程序性细胞衰老的认识,为延缓衰老和防治衰老相关疾病奠定了理论基础。

The activation of endogenous retrovirus(ERV)elements is involved in the regulation of related gene expression at specific developmental stages,such as early embryonic development and placental formation.Subsequently,under the surveillance of epigenetic regulation and other factors,ERVs remain transcriptionally silent in post-embryonic developmental stages.Aberrant ERV transcriptional activation is associated with the occurrence and development of multiple diseases such as cancers,neurodegeneration disorders,and autoimmune diseases.However,the role and underlying molecular mechanism of ERV in aging are still unclear.By the combination of interdisciplinary techniques in multiple aging models across cells,tissues,and species,researchers have revealed the unique roles of ERV reactivation as a biomarker and driving force of aging.Moreover,novel intervention strategies targeting ERVs have been developed to alleviate the degeneration and aging of tissues and organs.This progress expands the understanding of programmed cellular senescence,laying a theoretical foundation for alleviating aging and aging-related diseases.