A cellular network linking various regions of the brain may play an important role in the development and progression of Parkinson's disease, research published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine suggests. Parkinson's disease is characterized by clumps of abnormal brain proteins called Lewy bodies of which a-synuclein (a-syn) protein is the principal component. It isn't known how a-syn proteins spread and impair motor function.
实验医学杂志》(Journal of Experimental Medicine)刊发的一项研究表明，一个与大脑不同部位连接的细胞网络在帕金森病的发展和演变过程中可能发挥了重要作用。帕金森病的主要特征是被称为"路易小体"(Lewy bodies)的异常脑蛋白聚集，而a-synuclein蛋白（简称a-syn蛋白）是路易小体的主要组成部分。目前并不清楚a-syn蛋白是如何扩散并损害大脑功能的。
Researchers in Pennsylvania conducted experiments with mice bred to develop neurological symptoms associated with abnormal a-syn after about 12 months. Minute quantities of abnormal a-syn from older diseased mice exhibiting neurological symptoms were injected into one mouse group. A second group was injected with a-syn from young mice that didn't yet exhibit neurological symptoms; controls received saline injections. Injections targeted regions of the brain most affected by Parkinson's disease.
美国宾夕法尼亚州的研究人员对经过大约12个月培养期、存在神经系统异常症状并伴有异常a-syn蛋白问题的老鼠进行了实验。在该实验中，从鼠龄较大、存在神经系统异常症状的患病老鼠体内获取的少量异常a-syn蛋白被注入第一组实验鼠体内；从鼠龄较轻、不存在神经系统异常症状的老鼠体内获取的a-syn蛋白被注入第二组实验鼠体内。对照组则输入了含盐注射液。注射位置锁定在受帕金森病影响最严重的脑部区域。
After 90 days, a-syn proteins resembling Lewy bodies were widely distributed throughout the central nervoussystem of the first group, suggesting a-syn from diseased tissues had a highly potent seeding effect, researchers said.
90天后，类似路易小体的a-syn蛋白广泛扩散到第一组实验鼠的中枢神经系统，研究人员称，这说明患病组织中的a-syn蛋白具有极强的传播效应。
Abnormal a-syn wasn't detected for 164 days in the second group and was undetectable in controls. Survival in the first group was significantly reduced compared with controls. The findings may explain the relentless neurological decline of patients with neurodegenerative disorders and offer new treatment opportunities, researchers said.
第二组实验鼠在长达164天的时间内未发现异常a-syn蛋白，对照组在整个实验过程中均未发现异常a-syn蛋白。第一组的存活率远低于对照组。研究人员称，该结果或许可解释存在神经退行性紊乱症的患者神经功能不断衰退的原因，从而为研究新的治疗方案提供机会。
Caveat: Other types of a-syn may be involved in the transmission of Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases, researchers said.
警告：研究人员指出，在帕金森病和其它神经退行性疾病的传播过程中，不排除有其他类型的a-syn蛋白发挥作用的可能性。
Ann Lukits
- research [ri´sə:tʃ]
n.&vi.调查；探究；研究 (初中英语单词) - journal [´dʒə:nəl] n.日记；日报；杂志 (初中英语单词)
- abnormal [æb´nɔ:məl] a.变态的，反常的 (初中英语单词)
- principal [´prinsəpəl] a.主要的 n.负责人 (初中英语单词)
- exhibit [ig´zibit] vt.展出 n.展览品 (初中英语单词)
- nervous [´nə:vəs] a.神经的；神经过敏的 (初中英语单词)
- system [´sistəm] n.系统，体系，制度 (初中英语单词)
- treatment [´tri:tmənt] n.待遇；对待；治疗 (初中英语单词)
- component [kəm´pəunənt] a.组成的；成分 (高中英语单词)
- network [´netwə:k] n.网状物 vt.联播 (英语四级单词)
- experimental [ik,speri´mentl] a.实验的 (英语四级单词)
- impair [im´peə] vt.削弱；损害 (英语四级单词)
- potent [´pəutənt] a.有(势)力的；烈性的 (英语四级单词)
- protein [´prəuti:n] n.蛋白质 a.蛋白质的 (英语六级单词)
- diseased [di´zi:zd] a.生病的；有病的 (英语六级单词)
- affected [ə´fektid] a.做作的；假装的 (英语六级单词)
- relentless [ri´lentləs] a.无情的；坚韧的 (英语六级单词)
- transmission [trænz´miʃən, træns-] n.传送；播送；发射 (英语六级单词)
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