Molecular Diagnosis & Therapy

, Volume 19, Issue 5, pp 255–265 | Cite as

Treatment Against Human Endogenous Retrovirus: A Possible Personalized Medicine Approach for Multiple Sclerosis

  • François Curtin
  • Hervé Perron
  • Raphael Faucard
  • Hervé Porchet
  • Alois B. Lang
Review Article
First Online:

Abstract

Human endogenous retroviruses (HERV) represent about 8 % of the human genome. Some of these genetic elements are expressed in pathological circumstances. A HERV protein, the multiple sclerosis–associated retrovirus (MSRV) envelope protein (MSRV-Env), is expressed in the blood and active brain lesions of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. It possesses pro-inflammatory and myelinotoxic properties. The patterns of expression and pathogenic properties of MSRV-Env make it a relevant drug target for MS therapeutics—in particular for preventing neurodegeneration, a key component of progressive forms of MS. An immunoglobulin G4 monoclonal antibody (mAb), called GNbAC1, has been developed to neutralize this pathogenic target. After showing neutralizing effects in vitro and in mouse models of MS, GNbAC1 is now in phase II clinical development. MSRV-related biomarkers such as MSRV-Env and MSRV polymerase (MSRV-Pol) gene transcripts are overexpressed in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with MS. These biomarkers may have prognostic value for long-term MS evolution, and their transcription levels in blood decline during treatments with GNbAC1, which has also been reported in patients administered reference MS drugs such as natalizumab or interferon-β. GNbAC1 as a new MSRV-Env-antagonist mAb could be a specific and causal treatment for MS, with a particular application for progressive forms of the disease. For possible use in companion diagnostic tests, MSRV-associated biomarkers could open the door to a personalized therapeutic approach for MS.

Keywords

Multiple Sclerosis Multiple Sclerosis Patient Natalizumab Expand Disability Status Scale Score Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Notes

Compliance with Ethical Standards

Conflict of interest disclosure

All authors (F. Curtin, H. Perron, R. Faucard, H. Porchet, and A. Lang) are employees and/or shareholders of GeNeuro SA, Switzerland, and received funding from GeNeuro SA for their work as employees.

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Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015

Authors and Affiliations

  • François Curtin
    • 1
    • 2
  • Hervé Perron
    • 1
  • Raphael Faucard
    • 1
  • Hervé Porchet
    • 1
    • 3
  • Alois B. Lang
    • 1
  1. 1.GeNeuro SAGenevaSwitzerland
  2. 2.Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology DivisionGeneva University HospitalGenevaSwitzerland
  3. 3.Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health SciencesUniversity of PretoriaPretoriaSouth Africa

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