人體發(fā)現(xiàn)的蛋白質或能抑制艾滋病病毒

Chinese scientists have identified a new proteinthat restricts HIV infection, a discovery that couldpave the way for the development of new drugsagainst the virus. The protein, P-selectinglycoprotein ligand 1 (PSGL-1), which exists inhuman cells, can inhibit the process by which HIVreplicates, according to research published in thescience journal Nature Microbiology this month.

中國科學家新發(fā)現(xiàn)了一種可以抑制艾滋病病毒感染的蛋白質，這一發(fā)現(xiàn)或為研發(fā)抗艾滋病病毒的新藥品開辟路徑。本月于《自然·微生物學》科學雜志上發(fā)表的研究表明，P-選擇素糖蛋白配體1(PSGL-1)蛋白質存在于人體細胞，可抑制艾滋病病毒的繁殖過程。

However, the study also showed that PSGL-1 can be negatively affected by Vpu-anaccessory protein of HIV-which can neutralize the ability of PSGL-1 to resist HIV. Furtherresearch is underway to develop a drug that can inhibit the HIV protein so that PSGL-1 canrestrict HIV, according to Tan Xu, a researcher at Tsinghua University's School ofPharmaceutical Sciences, a leading author of the study.

但是，該研究也表明PSGL-1會受到Vpu蛋白(艾滋病病毒的附屬蛋白)的負面影響--Vpu會使PSGL-1無法抑制艾滋病病毒。清華大學藥學院的研究員、本研究的主要作者譚旭(Tan Xu)表示，目前正開展進一步的研究以期研發(fā)一種可以抑制艾滋病病毒蛋白的藥物，使PSGL-1抑制艾滋病病毒。

Several other proteins in human cells that could resist HIV have been discovered over the past10 years, though the virus can also evade them. PSGL-1 shows particular promise in that itcan inhibit the HIV in multiple ways-especially by blocking the infectiousness of virusoffspring, Tan said.

過去十年來，研究員在人體細胞中發(fā)現(xiàn)了其它幾種可抑制艾滋病病毒的蛋白質，但艾滋病病毒總能避開這些蛋白質。PSGL-1具有多重抗病毒功能，展現(xiàn)良好的前景--尤其能抑制新生病毒的感染，譚旭說道。

"We are starting to screen for small molecule compounds in the hope of finding one that canrestore PSGL-1's anti-HIV function. In this way we can develop a very effective antiviraldrug for people with HIV/AIDS," he said.

"我們正在篩選小分子化合物，以期找到能恢復PSGL-1抗艾滋病病毒功能的分子化合物。如此，我們可以開發(fā)一種非常有效的抗病毒藥物用于治療艾滋病病毒/艾滋病患者，"他說道。

 

Tan said it will require at least three to five years for the research to reach the preclinical stage, and more time after that before a clinical trial is possible. The research was conducted byresearchers at Tsinghua University in Beijing, Fudan University in Shanghai and George MasonUniversity in the United States.

譚旭表示，至少還需要再研究3-5年才能達到臨床前階段，在臨床試驗前，還需要更長時間。該研究由北京清華大學、上海復旦大學和美國喬治梅森大學的研究員合作展開。

Existing treatment methods for people with HIV/AIDS, which mostly rely on a combination ofdifferent drugs, can prevent the disease from progressing but cannot cure it, and long-termuse of drugs can result in drug resistance.

現(xiàn)有的治療艾滋病病毒/艾滋病患者的方法主要依靠不同藥物的組合，可預防艾滋病惡化，但無法做到治愈。此外，長期使用藥物會產生耐藥性。

An estimated 37 million people in the world live with HIV, according to the Joint United NationsProgramme on HIV/AIDS. The study provides new leads to developing antiviral drugs, TsinghuaUniversity said in a statement.

據(jù)聯(lián)合國艾滋病規(guī)劃署表示，全世界大約有3700萬名艾滋病病毒患者。該研究為開發(fā)抗病毒藥物提供新思路，清華大學在一項聲明中說道。