Spider Venom Could Help Save Stroke Victims
蜘蛛毒液可能拯救中風病患
刊登日期：2017-03-26
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人類被澳洲漏斗網蜘蛛咬一口，15分鐘內就會斃命，但在一種漏斗網蜘蛛毒液內發現的蛋白質卻可保護腦細胞受到中風損傷，即使在中風後數小時注射也能有效提供保護。 科學家感到好奇，於是人工合成這種蛋白質，並將其注射到老鼠體內。他們發現單次注射少量這種蛋白質分子能夠保護神經細胞免於中風之害。Hi1a會阻斷細胞內的酸敏感性離子通道， 避免酸性物質造成腦細胞死亡。 |
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Spider Venom Could Help Save Stroke Victims 蜘蛛毒液可能拯救中風病患 A bite from an Australian funnel web spider can kill a human in 15 minutes, but a protein found in the venom of one species can protect brain cells from being destroyed by a stroke, even when given hours after the event. 人類被澳洲漏斗網蜘蛛咬一口，15分鐘內就會斃命，但在一種漏斗網蜘蛛毒液內發現的蛋白質卻可保護腦細胞受到中風損傷，即使在中風後數小時注射也能有效提供保護。 Researchers chanced upon the protective molecule as they sequenced the DNA of toxins in the venom of the Darling Downs funnel web spider (Hadronyche infensa) that inhabits areas of Queensland and New South Wales. The molecule, called Hi1a, stood out because it resembled two copies of another brain cell-protecting chemical. 研究者在排序唐斯漏斗網蜘蛛（學名Hadronyche infensa）毒液內毒素的DNA時，發現了這個蛋白質分子，唐斯漏斗網蜘蛛主要的棲地在昆士蘭和南威爾斯地區。這個蛋白質分子被稱為Hi1a，因為像是另一種保護大腦的化學物質的雙重複合體，而引起關注。 Intrigued, the scientists recreated the protein and injected it into rats. They found that a single small dose of the spider venom molecule protected neurons from induced strokes. The compound works by blocking what are called ion channels in cells, specifically those that respond to the onset of acidic conditions in the brain that cause cells to die. 科學家感到好奇，於是人工合成這種蛋白質，並將其注射到老鼠體內。他們發現單次注射少量這種蛋白質分子能夠保護神經細胞免於中風之害。Hi1a會阻斷細胞內的酸敏感性離子通道， 避免酸性物質造成腦細胞死亡。 In the study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers described Hi1a as “highly neuroprotective” in cases of a stroke caused by a blood clot. They found that administering Hi1a two hours after a stroke reduced the extent of brain damage in rats by 80%. Furthermore, the compound was still effective eight hours after a stroke, decreasing the amount of brain damage by about 65% when compared with untreated animals. 這項研究發佈於《美國國家科學院院刊 》，研究者形容Hi1a針對血管阻塞所造成的中風病例，「能極有效地保護神經細胞」。研究者發現，中風兩小時後注入Hi1a，能使白老鼠腦部損傷的程度減少80％。此外，Hi1a在中風8小時後仍然有效，相較於沒有接受治療的白老鼠，其腦部損傷程度能降低65％。 Strokes are the second largest cause of death worldwide after heart attacks, with approximately six million people dying from strokes every year. Around 85 percent of strokes are caused by blockages in blood vessels that supply the brain with oxygen. 中風是全球第二大死因，僅次於心臟病，每年約有600萬人死於中風。大約有85％的中風是由腦部攜帶氧氣的血管阻塞所造成。 “This world-first discovery will help us provide better outcomes for stroke survivors by limiting the brain damage and disability caused by this devastating injury,” said Glenn King, who led the research. 研究主要作者金恩表示：「這項全球首度的發現將幫助我們藉由縮減中風對腦部造成嚴重的損傷與失能，為中風病患提供較良好的健康條件。」 |
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