我國科學家在根治HIV等感染上獲突破

Chinese scientists have defined a subset of a type of virus-specific cells that could pave the way for new ways to treat chronic diseases like HIV/AIDS and cancer, Xinhua News Agency reported last Saturday.

據新華社上週六報道，中國科學家揭示了一羣新的CD8＋T細胞亞類，這一發現將有助於爲艾滋病、癌症等慢性病毒感染的治療提供新方法。

Nature magazine published online a research paper, claiming that virus-specific cells, CD8+T, are able to control viral replication in both animal models and HIV infections.

《自然》雜誌發表的一篇研究成果中指出，CD8+T細胞亞類能抑制動物模型和艾滋病感染的病毒複製。

"CD8+T cells were found to deplete during chronic viral infections in past research but could curtail acute viral infections by secreting antiviral cytokine that could eliminate the viruses," Ye Lilin, co-author of the paper and professor at the Third Military Medical University, told Xinhua.

該研究論著的合著者、第三軍醫大學的葉麗林教授在接受新華社採訪時介紹稱：“此前的研究發現，在慢性病毒感染過程中，CD8＋T細胞出現“功能耗竭”的現象；但是在急性病毒感染中，該細胞分泌抗病毒細胞因子從而有效清除病毒。”

However, research findings showed that a subset of CD8+T cells was largely able to curtail viral replication in animal models and HIV infections.

不過，研究結果發現，在動物模型以及艾滋病感染中，CD8+T細胞亞類仍然能在很大程度上抑制病毒的複製。

Researchers also found the subset that offers higher anti-viral potential than previously known, showing greater therapeutic potential, Xinhua reported.

據新華社報道，研究人員還發現，該類細胞羣具備的抗病毒能力遠遠高出人們已知的水平，顯示出更大的治療潛力。

"Through certain means, to increase and stabilize the type of cells can strengthen their virus-purging ability, thus providing new possibilities for cures," Ye said.

葉教授表示：“通過一定的手段，增加和穩定這一類細胞，可以增強其清除病毒的功能，這就爲治癒疾病提供了新的可能。”

Current therapies can only contain the viral replication, but can not purge them completely in chronic diseases like HIV/AIDS.

目前，治療艾滋等慢性病毒感染導致的疾病，化學藥物只能在一定程度上抑制病毒複製，尚不能徹底根除。

Chinese researchers will now use the findings to further conduct research into immunotherapy in cancer and HIV, Ye said.

葉教授透露，下一步，中國研究人員將把這一最新研究成果運用到癌症和艾滋的免疫治療研究中。