The Association between Plasma ERVWE1 Concentrations and Affective Symptoms during Pregnancy: Is This a Friendly Alien?

Marta Serati, Cecilia Maria Esposito, Silvia Grassi, Valentina Bollati, Jennifer Lynn Barkin and Massimiliano Buoli
Additional contact information
Marta Serati: Department of Mental Health, ASST RHODENSE, 20024 Rho, Italy
Cecilia Maria Esposito: Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
Silvia Grassi: Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
Valentina Bollati: EPIGET-Epidemiology, Epigenetics and Toxicology Lab-Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
Jennifer Lynn Barkin: Department of Community Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, GA 31207, USA
Massimiliano Buoli: Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 24, 1-7

Abstract: Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) comprise 8% of the human genome, and HERV DNA was reported to be essential in human embryonic development. Specifically, HERV-W encodes a protein, syncytin-1, alternatively known as ERVWE1 (Human Endogenous Retrovirus W EnvC7-1 Envelope Protein), participating in human placental morphogenesis and having a role in immune system regulation. Syncytin-1 activity is increased in neuropsychiatric disorders, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. In our study, forty-four women in the third trimester of pregnancy were tested for ERVWE1 plasma levels. In concomitance with blood samples the following rating scales were administered to women: the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S), Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), and Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI). We found that higher ERVWE1 protein plasma levels were significantly associated with higher PAI scores ( p = 0.02), an earlier gestational age at the time of blood collection ( p = 0.01), a longer duration of symptoms ( p = 0.03), and fewer lifetime attempted suicides ( p = 0.02). Our results seem to support the role of ERVWE1 in maintaining clinical psychiatric symptoms as a result of potential prolonged inflammation. At the same time, this protein may have a protective role in pregnant women by a reduction of suicidal behavior and a better mother–fetus relationship.

Keywords: Human Endogenous Retrovirus W EnvC7-1 Envelope Protein (ERVWE1); syncytin 1; pregnancy; affective symptoms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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