HERV1-env dependent unfolded protein response activation is a potential initiator of T cell autoreactivity in autoimmune liver disease.

Here we report Human Endogenous Retrovirus 1 (HERV1-env) induction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress with Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) activation, through its interaction with ATF6.ATF6α up-regulates RORC, STAT3 and TBX21 and induces IL-17A and INF-γ production in Tregs by binding to promoter sequences. ChIP-DNA from FACS-sorted memory Tregs from 5 subject groups