Abstract
This chapter characterizes antigenic and biological properties of retroviral antibodies. Retroviral antibodies in human autoimmune diseases react predominantly with gag-derived proteins or peptides. Explanation for this finding is the high degree of conservation of the gag antigen leading to a cross-reactivity of antibodies to the gag derived proteins from various exogenous as well as endogenous retroviruses. The defined roles of exogenous and endogenous retroviruses in some animal models of autoimmune diseases led to speculations on the involvement of such viruses in human diseases. In ungulates, infections with caprine arthritis encephalitis virus and equine infectious anemia virus cause well-defined autoimmune disease, and the appearance of seropositivity of the animals is of diagnostic value. In the MRL-lpr/lpr mice antibodies against endogenous p70 are involved in kidney destruction and are suitable for predicting kidney disease. Detection of retroviral antibodies in human autoimmune disease by indisputable, vigorous assays with proper controls is important with regard to the search of retroviruses as disease-causing agents.
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