HYPOTHESIS - LINK BETWEEN ENDOGENOUS RETROVIRUSES AND CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE

A two-order-magnitude increase in the expression of an endogenous retr ovirus was found in myocytes from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR ) relative to Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). It has now been demonstrated th at the increase in proviral transcripts is not secondary to the effect s of pressure overload, as WKY hearts with hypertrophy due to aortic b anding do not express the retrovirus. Crossing SHR with WKY results in intermediate levels of blood pressure, hypertrophy and retroviral gen e expression, suggesting co-segregation of genotype and phenotype. Fin dings suggest a possible linkage between an endogenous retrovirus and genetic hypertension in the SHR, A brief overview of endogenous retrov iruses is presented and a discussion of their potential for inducing c ardiovascular pathology is considered, (C) 1998 Academic Press.