PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - P N Nelson AU - P R Carnegie AU - J Martin AU - H Davari Ejtehadi AU - P Hooley AU - D Roden AU - S Rowland-Jones AU - P Warren AU - J Astley AU - P G Murray TI - Demystified . . . Human endogenous retroviruses AID - 10.1136/mp.56.1.11 DP - 2003 Feb 01 TA - Molecular Pathology PG - 11--18 VI - 56 IP - 1 4099 - http://mp.bmj.com/content/56/1/11.short 4100 - http://mp.bmj.com/content/56/1/11.full SO - Mol Pathol2003 Feb 01; 56 AB - Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are a family of viruses within our genome with similarities to present day exogenous retroviruses. HERVs have been inherited by successive generations and it is possible that some have conferred biological benefits. However, several HERVs have been implicated in certain cancers and autoimmune diseases. This article demystifies these retroviruses by providing an insight into HERVs, their means of classification, and a synopsis of HERVs implicated in cancer and autoimmunity. Furthermore, the biological roles of HERVs are explored.