芬蘭科學(xué)家的研究表明,長期以來被認(rèn)為在癌癥發(fā)病方面起重要作用的RHO蛋白質(zhì),,在摧毀神經(jīng)細(xì)胞方面也起著關(guān)鍵作用,。
據(jù)英國最新一期《自然-神經(jīng)科學(xué)》雜志報(bào)道,許多神經(jīng)退化性疾病的病因是,,大腦中的神經(jīng)元被過分刺激,,從而導(dǎo)致神經(jīng)細(xì)胞死亡。芬蘭科學(xué)家進(jìn)一步研究發(fā)現(xiàn),,RHO蛋白質(zhì)因這種過分刺激而被激活,,因此能發(fā)出摧毀神經(jīng)細(xì)胞的信號(hào)。實(shí)驗(yàn)顯示,,通過基因改造抑制RHO蛋白質(zhì)活性,,可使這種蛋白質(zhì)處于怠惰狀態(tài),這樣神經(jīng)細(xì)胞就可以“免遭不幸”,。
科學(xué)家認(rèn)為,,這一發(fā)現(xiàn)有助于研究腦細(xì)胞退化的機(jī)理,并開發(fā)治療神經(jīng)性疾病的新藥,。
部分英文原文:
Rho mediates calcium-dependent activation of p38α and subsequent excitotoxic cell death
Maria M Semenova, Anu M J Mäki-Hokkonen, Jiong Cao, Vladislav Komarovski, K Marjut Forsberg, Milla Koistinaho, Eleanor T Coffey, Michael J Courtney
SUMMARY: Excitotoxic neuronal death contributes to many neurological disorders, and involves calcium influx and stress-activated protein kinases (SAPKs) such as p38α. There is indirect evidence
Nature Neuroscience (18 Mar 2007) Article