Antibodies against a specific protein from an ancient viral sequence in human DNA are found in about 29% of healthy people and in 32% to 47% of people with certain autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

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Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

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Community contributions welcome

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Autoantibodies to human endogenous retrovirus‐K are frequently detected in health and disease and react with multiple epitopes

Cross-Sectional Study

Human

2002 Apr

Scientists found that about 1 in 3 healthy people and 1 in 3 to almost half of people with certain autoimmune diseases have antibodies against a harmless ancient virus in our DNA — meaning this immune response is common whether you're sick or not.

Contradicting (0)

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No contradicting evidence found

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According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.

Source Study

Autoantibodies to human endogenous retrovirus‐K are frequently detected in health and disease and react with multiple epitopes

Score: 38

DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2249.2002.01735.x

Similar Assertions

Certain antibodies in the human immune system bind to specific parts of proteins derived from ancient viral sequences in the human genome. One of these binding sites, GKTCPKEIPKGSKNT, has a unique chemical composition and does not resemble known self-proteins or infectious viruses.

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Two viral proteins, HERV-K10 and IDDMK1,222, have nearly identical sequences, and antibodies that bind to one also bind strongly to the other. This suggests the immune system is responding to common structural features, not distinct differences between them.

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