Do “VILPs” signal a new era for viral endocrinology?

There are many possibilities that need to be researched. If the viruses can infect human cells, then maybe they could mimic insulin signaling and cause hypoglycemia, or on the other hand, maybe they could act as competitive antagonists and impair insulin signaling, Dr. Kahn said.

The four VILPs found to date represent the tip of a potential iceberg because only about 2% of viruses have been sequenced. That means there could be 50 times as many other viral hormones out there that could influence human health and disease, Dr. Kahn said in his presentation.

Dr. Kahn reported disclosures related to CohBar, ERX Therapeutics, Kaleido Biosciences, and Merck.