Has an old virus "infected" some people with drug addiction?

Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm "type =" text "content =" An old retrovirus infecting our primate ancestors could be linked to people who are suffering from addiction nowadays. "data-reactid =" 22 "> An old retrovirus that infected our primate ancestors could be linked to people who are suffering from addiction nowadays.

<p class = "canvas-atom-text-canvas Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – smt Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "The human genome is" littered "with remains of old retroviruses – but a remainder, HK2, seems to be more frequently found in people who inject drugs, a research project has found. "data-reactid =" 23 "> The human genome is" littered "with remains of old retroviruses – but a remainder, HK2, seems to be more common found in people who inject drugs, a research project has found.

The integration of the virus preceded the appearance of modern humans and was observed in the genomes of Neanderthal and Denisovan.

Greek researchers have discovered that people who inject drugs are two to three times more likely to incorporate HK2 into RASGRF2 (a gene involved in the regulation of dopaminergic activity in the brain).

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According to the researchers, this is a "strong indication" that predisposes people to addictive behavior.

Professor Katzourakis from Oxford University said, "Our study shows for the first time that rare variants of HK2 can affect a complex human trait.

Dr. Gkikas Magiorkinis, from the University of Athens, who led the study, added: "Most people think that these old viruses are harmless.

"From time to time, people have shown an overexpression of HK2 in cancer, but it has been difficult to distinguish the cause of the effect. In 2012, after a 20-year controversy regarding their human pathogenic roles, we sought to test the high-risk hypothesis that HERVs may be responsible for human diseases. Now, we have strong evidence that HERV can be pathogenic.

"For the first time, we are able to distinguish between the cause and the effect on the pathogenicity of HERV."