遺伝子治療で癌細胞が自滅
© Queen's University Belfast
Helen McCarthy博士
髪の毛の太さの約400分の1の大きさの粒子で遺伝子を癌細胞に送達し，その癌細胞を自滅させる治療法が考案された。これまで，遺伝子治療では遺伝子の効果的な送達が大きな問題だった。新たに考案されたのは，デザイナーバイオミメティックベクターと呼ばれる送達システムを用いて，一酸化窒素合成酵素の遺伝子を特定の癌細胞を標的として送りこむ方法だ。癌細胞で有毒な一酸化窒素が合成されることで癌細胞が死滅するか，または化学療法や放射線療法に弱くなる。乳癌細胞を使った実験で，細胞の死滅が確認されている。（吉田素子）
Gene Fuelled Transporter Causes Breast Cancer Cells to Self-Destruct
Scientists at Queen’s have shown that they can deliver a gene directly into breast cancer cells causing them to self-destruct, using an innovative, miniscule gene transport system, according to research published today (28 February) in the International Journal of Pharmaceutics.
Using a transport system called a Designer Biomimetic Vector (DBV), Dr Helen McCarthy, from Queen’s School of Pharmacy, funded by Breast Cancer Campaign, packaged a gene into a nanoparticle 400 times smaller than the width of a human hair, allowing it to be delivered straight into breast cancer cells in the laboratory.
The gene called iNOS, is targeted specifically to breast cancer cells using the DBV where it forces the cells to produce poisonous nitric oxide; either killing the cells outright or making them more vulnerable to being destroyed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. As this approach leaves normal healthy breast cells unaffected, this would overcome many of the toxic side effects of current treatments.
Further investigation is needed but it could be trialled in patients in as little as five years. Dr McCarthy’s next step is to turn the nanoparticles into a dried powder that could be easily transported and reconstituted before being given to patients.
Dr McCarthy said: “A major stumbling block to using gene therapy in the past has been the lack of an effective delivery system. Combining the Designer Biomimetic Vector with the iNOS gene has proved successful in killing breast cancer cells in the laboratory.
［単語和訳］
Gene：遺伝子 Fuelled：～を積んだ Transporter：輸送体 Breast Cancer：乳癌 Cells：細胞 Self-Destruct：自滅
Innovative：革新的な miniscule：極めて小さい according to：～によると Pharmaceutics：薬剤学
Designer Biomimetic Vector：デザイナーバイオミメティックベクター nanoparticle：ナノ粒子 laboratory：実験室
iNOS：誘導型一酸化窒素合成酵素（ここではその遺伝子） specifically：特異的に forces～to...：～に強制的に...させる nitric oxide：一酸化窒素 outright：完全に vulnerable to：～になりやすい，～を起こしやすい chemotherapy：化学療法 radiotherapy：放射線療法 unaffected：影響を受けていない overcome：打ち勝つ，克服する toxic：有害な side effects：副作用
could be trialled：試験を行うことができるだろう be reconstituted：（乾燥したものが元の形に）もどされる
stumbling block to：～に対する障害 therapy：治療
