The invention concerns a novel nucleic sequence and deduced protein sequence
family with whole or partial human endogenous retroviral motifs. The invention
also concerns the detection and/or the use of said nucleic sequences and said corresponding
protein sequences or fragments of said sequences, for diagnostic, prophylactic
and therapeutic uses, in particular for neuropathological conditions with autoimmune
constituent such as multiple sclerosis. Said purified nucleic acid sequences comprise
all or part of a sequence coding for a human endogenous retroviral sequence having
at least eny-type retroviral motifs, corresponding to the sequence SEQ ID NO:1
or to a sequence having a homology level with said sequence SEQ ID NO:1 not less
than 80% of more than 190 nucleotides or not less than 70% on more than 600 nucleotides
for env-type domains. The invention further concerns the use of the flanking or
adjacent sequence of said sequences and controlled by the latter, as diagnostic reagents.
