Figure 5.

Pro-oncogenic potential of HERV-derived Env biological functions. Both SU and TM Env subunits can potentially trigger tumorigenic mechanisms through the same biological activities involved in their viral and physiological functions. Adhesion (SU) and fusogenic (TM) functions can lead to cell-cell fusion and syncytia formation, sustaining tumor genic and chromosomal instability; while immunosuppressive activity (TM) can mediate or facilitate the tumor cell immune-evasion, preventing cytotoxic (CTL) and apoptotic responses. All these processes can thus have an impact on tumor growth and in the subsequent process of tissue invasion and migration.