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Interferon Needed For Cells To 'Remember' How To Defeat A Virus
免疫细胞需要干扰素来记住如何消灭病毒
ScienceDaily (Dec. 8, 2008) — Scientists at UT Southwestern Medical Center have determined that the immune-system protein interferon plays a key role in "teaching" the immune system how to fight off repeated infections of the same virus.
The findings have potential application in the development of more effective vaccines and anti-viral therapies.
2008年12月8日，科学时报：德州大学西南医学研究中心的科学家发现干扰素（一种免疫蛋白）在引导免疫系统处理同一病毒引起的反复感染方面发挥了关键的作用。该发现在高效疫苗和抗病毒治疗的发展方面有着潜在的应用价值。
Typically, when a person is infected with a virus, the human body immediately generates a massive number of T cells – a type of immune cell – that kill off the infected cells. Once the infection has cleared, most of the T cells also die off, leaving behind a small pool of central memory cells that "remember" how to fight that particular type of virus if the person is infected again.
通常情况下，当人体被病毒感染后，机体会迅速产生大量的T细胞，这是一种免疫细胞，能够杀死被感染的细胞。一旦感染被清除，大多数的T细胞也会随之死亡，但是会有少量的关键的记忆性的T细胞留下来，当人体被二次感染时，他们会记得如何消灭该种类型的病毒。
"In this study, we have uncovered interferon's role and the key signaling protein, called IL-2, involved in generating memory T cells," said Dr. David Farrar, assistant professor of immunology at UT Southwestern and senior author of the study. "Knowing how T cells acquire this memory may help us design better strategies and vaccines to fight HIV and other infectious diseases. Further, our discovery was made using primary human CD4+ T cells, which underscores the relevance of our discovery to human immune responses."
该研究中心的免疫学助理研究员David Farrar医生是该研究中最年长的一位，他说：“我们在这项研究中揭示了干扰素和白介素2（一种关键的信号蛋白）在记忆性T细胞产生中的重要作用。了解了T细胞获得记忆性的机制将有助于我们设计更好的治疗HIV和其它感染性疾病的的策略和疫苗。此外，为了接近人体的免疫应答，我们的研究对象是原代培养的人CD4+ T细胞。”
CD4+ T cells coordinate the actions of other cells at the site of infection.
CD4+ T细胞能够在感染位点与其他细胞产生协同作用。
When a virus or bacterium infects a human, the infected cells secrete several molecules, including a cytokine – or signaling protein – called interferon alpha. The action of interferon is what makes an infected person feel run down and tired. Although scientists knew that interferon alpha prevented a virus from multiplying and spreading, they didn't know what role interferon played in the creation of memory cells.
当人体受到病毒或者细菌感染后，被感染的细胞会分泌一些包括干扰素alpha（既是一种细胞因子也是一种信号蛋白）在内的分子。干扰素能够使人在感染后感到疲惫和无力。虽然科学家已经发现干扰素alpha能够抑制病毒复制和扩散，但是还不知道干扰素在记忆性细胞产生中的作用。
In the current study, the UT Southwestern researchers show that both interferon alpha and another signaling protein called IL-12 are needed to induce the creation of memory cells. They found that interferon and IL-12 team up to promote the creation of a special set of cells that then secrete another signaling protein called IL-2. These IL-2-secreting cells are the ones that remain in the body and "remember" how to fight off the virus.
研究人员通过本研究发现干扰素alpha和白介素12（另外一种信号蛋白）在诱导记忆性细胞形成方面都是必需的。他们发现干扰素和白介素12能够共同促进一种能够分泌白介素2的特殊细胞的生成。这些细胞就是滞留在人体内发挥记忆作用的那些细胞。
"Without the IL-2 signaling protein, you'll generate a beautiful primary response against a virus, and you'll eliminate the bug, but your body won't remember how it defeated the virus," Dr. Farrar said. "Without these memory cells, your body is defenseless against re-infections."
Farrar医生说：“在没有白介素2的情况下，人体一样能够对病毒产生完整的初始免疫应答，而且不会留下任何痕迹，但是不会记住这些病毒是如何被消灭的。人体在没有这些记忆细胞的情况下是无法应付二次感染的。”
Ann Davis, student research assistant in immunology and lead author of the study, said this suggests a new role for interferon: teacher.
"This is really the first demonstration of a role for interferon in teaching a T cell how to respond to viral infections," she said.
Ann Davis是免疫学的研究助手，也是该研究的第一作者，她说：“这提示干扰素的一个新的作用：教师的作用。同时本次研究首次证实了干扰素在引导T细胞处理病毒感染的中的作用。：
Dr. Farrar added: "Up until now, interferon has always been appreciated for its role in inhibiting virus infections. But no one's really paid attention to interferon and its role in regulating memory. That's why we're so excited about this result."
Farrar补充说：”直到现在人们仍然主要关注干扰素在抑制病毒感染中的作用。但是对干扰素和其在记忆调节中的作用却很少关注。这就是我们对这个结果感到兴奋的主要原因。“
The next step, Dr. Farrar said, is to complete the same study in mice. Early results show that mice with T cells that can't respond to interferon are unable to protect themselves when a virus invades.
"Their immune systems have no idea how to fight the virus," Dr. Farrar said. Dr. Farrar said these early findings in mice may pave the way for designing more effective vaccines.
Farrar医生说他们下一步打算在小鼠身上重复相同的试验。早期的研究结果表明如果小鼠体内的T细胞无法对干扰素产生应答，那么它无法抵御病毒入侵。这些早期的发现可能会为高效的疫苗的开发铺平了道路。Farrar医生同时谈到：”免疫系统本身是不懂得处理病毒的。“
This research is available online and in the Dec. 15 issue of the Journal of Immunology. Other UT Southwestern researchers involved in the study were Hilario Ramos, student research assistant in immunology, and Dr. Laurie Davis, associate professor of internal medicine.
这些研究结果刊登在12月份免疫学杂志的第15期上，可以在线查阅。该研究中心参与该项研究的其它人员有Hilario Ramos和Laurie Davis医生，前者是免疫学的研究助理，后者是内科学的助理研究员。
The National Institutes of Health supported the research.
本研究得到了美国健康学会的支持。 |
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楼主: 换个思路
发表于 2008-12-15 11:23
