Publications by authors named "J L Touraine"
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), remnants of ancestral viral genomic insertions, are known to represent 8% of the human genome and are associated with several pathologies. In particular, the envelope protein of HERV-W family (HERV-W-Env) has been involved in multiple sclerosis pathogenesis. Investigations to detect HERV-W-Env in a few other autoimmune diseases were negative, except in type-1 diabetes (T1D).
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- The First International Scientific Conference on Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs) and Disease took place in Lyon, France, on May 26-27, 2015.
- The event gathered experts from various scientific and medical fields to explore the role of HERVs in complex human diseases.
- The conference aimed to enhance understanding of how these retroviruses may contribute to health issues in humans.
Article Synopsis
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex disease affecting the central nervous system, and current animal models mainly focus on the resulting immune responses rather than what triggers them.
- This study introduces a protein from the human endogenous retrovirus HERV-W family (MSRV-Env) as an alternative to the typical mycobacterial lysate for inducing autoimmunity and Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice, a model for MS.
- Results show that MSRV-Env triggers inflammatory responses similar to those found in MS brain lesions, providing a new avenue for pre-clinical research into treatments targeting this viral protein.
Background: We previously reported that transduction of the human interleukin (IL)-10 gene into the total fetal liver stem cells (hIL-10-TFLs) of mice protects against their rejection in an allogeneic host. In this study, we explored the effects of these cells in two different models of organ transplantation.
Methods: Balb/c mice were sublethally irradiated before receiving skin or vascularized heterotopic heart grafts from C57Bl/6 mice.
Article Synopsis
- - The study examined risk factors related to HIV-infected patients in Lyon, France, who presented for care with a CD4 cell count of ≤ 200 cells/mm³ between 1992 and 2006, highlighting significant demographics and characteristics.
- - Among 3,569 patients analyzed, 31.9% had a CD4 count ≤ 200 cells/mm³, with older age, male gender, certain routes of transmission, migrant status, and regional differences identified as key risk factors for this lower count at first presentation.
- - The research found a stark contrast in mortality rates, with 24.4% of patients in the lower CD4 group dying compared to only 4.1% in the higher group