人造分子逆转大鼠肝硬化

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Man-made molecules reverse liver cirrhosis in rats
By Tan Ee Lyn
HONG KONG (Reuters)
Scientists in Japan have designed artificial molecules that when used with rats successfully reversed liver cirrhosis, a serious chronic disease in humans that until now can only be cured by transplants.
肝硬化是一种只能靠肝移植治愈的严重的人类慢性疾病，但日本的科学家已经设计出了一种能成功逆转大鼠肝硬化的人造分子。
Cirrhosis is the hardening or scarring of the liver, and is caused by factors such as heavy drinking and Hepatitis B and C. The disease is especially serious in parts of Asia, including China.
肝硬化是肝脏的硬化或瘢痕化，可由酗酒，乙肝，丙肝等因素引起，这种疾病在亚洲一些地区，特别是中国特别严重。
Cirrhosis occurs when a class of liver cells starts producing collagen, a fibrous material that toughens skin and tendons. Such damage cannot be reversed although steps can be taken to prevent further damage. In advanced cases, transplants are the only way out.
当大量的肝细胞开始产生胶原蛋白，一种加固皮肤和肌腱的纤维物质。即使可以防止这种进一步损伤，但这种损伤是不可逆转的。在一些晚期的病例，肝移植是唯一的治疗方法。
In the journal Nature Biotechnology, the researchers said they designed molecules that can block collagen production by liver \"stellate cells\", which are also known to absorb vitamin
据自然生物技术杂志报道，研究专家设计出了一种分子，它能够阻止肝上皮细胞制造胶原蛋白，此种细胞也具有吸收维生素的功能。
The scientists then loaded the molecules into carriers that were coated with vitamin A, which tricked the stellate cells into absorbing the molecules.
然后，科学家把这种分子放置于覆盖在维生素A的载体上，从而使胶原细胞能够吸收这种分子。
\"By packaging the (molecules) in carriers coated with vitamin A, they tricked the stellate cells into letting in the inhibitor, which shut down collagen secretion,\" the researchers wrote.
通过把这种分子捆绑在覆盖于维生素A的载体上，诱骗胶原细胞允许阻止剂进入，从而阻断胶原的分泌，研究者如是说。
In the study, the researchers induced liver cirrhosis in rats and then injected them with the vitamin A-laced molecules.
在研究中，研究者诱导大鼠肝脏发生硬化，然后注入维生素A绑定的分子。
\"We were able to completely eradicate the fibrosis by injecting this agent ... we cured them of the cirrhosis,\" Yoshiro Niitsu at the Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine in Japan said in a telephone interview.
我们通过注射这种物质，能够完全消除大鼠的肝脏硬化，Yoshiro在札幌医科大学的一次电话访谈中说到。
\"The liver is such an important organ, after you remove the fibrosis, the liver by itself starts to regenerate tissues. So liver damage is reversible.\"
肝脏是这样一种重要器官，在你移除掉硬化组织后，肝脏能够自我修复长出正常的组织，因此 损伤是可以逆转的。
Explaining how the damage reversal came about, Niitsu said: \"Liver is itself responsible for the production and deposition of collagen, it also secretes certain enzymes that dissolve collagen ... dissolve the fibrosis which has already been deposited in the tissues.\"
对于肝脏损伤逆转如何发生的，Niitsu 这样解释：肝脏能够对胶原产生和积聚自我调节，它能够分泌一定的酶来消除这些胶原，溶解掉已经沉积在肝脏组织的多余的胶原蛋白。
Niitsu was hopeful that the molecules would provide a cure for cirrhosis patients in time.
Niitsu希望这种分子能够在不长的一段时间内治愈肝硬化。
We hope it (a drug) will be ready for humans in a few years,\" he said.
我希望这种药物在未来的几年里能够用于人类的肝硬化的治疗，他说。


《参考消息》科学技术版上也看到了这篇报道