Abstract
Human endogenous retro virus K (HERV-K) is distinctive among the retro viruses that comprise about 8% of the human genome in that multiple HERV-K proviruses encode full-length viral proteins, and many HERV-K proviruses formed during recent human evolution. HERV-K gag proteins are found in the cytoplasm of primary tumor cells of patients with seminoma. We identified HERV-K-specific T cells in patients with a past history of seminoma using the interferon-gamma ELISPOT assay and an MHC-HERV-K peptide-specific tetramer. A minority of apparently healthy subjects without evident germ cell tumors also made HERV-K-specific T cell responses. In summary, we detected T cell reactivity to HERV-K peptides in both past seminoma patients and a minority of apparently healthy controls.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 52-56 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses |
Volume | 22 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 2006 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases