Un trabajo publicado en la edición electrónica de "Nature Biotechnology" por científicos de la Universidad de Stanford (Estados Unidos) muestra que un procedimiento de terapia génica dirigido a las células hepáticas ha logrado frenar la infección por el virus de la hepatitis B en ratones.
La terapia actúa sobre una pequeña parte del material genético de las células hepáticas a la que el virus se acopla, lo cual previene la infección. Los autores comentan que, si bien existe una vacuna que previene eficazmente la hepatitis B, el tratamiento tiene una efectividad limitada en personas no inmunizadas que se infectan.
Una vez el virus se une a la célula que infecta pone en marcha la maquinaria que permite su replicación. Los investigadores crearon una porción de material genético imitando a la parte del ARN a la que se acopla el virus. Cuando ambas secciones entran en contacto se unen, formando una sola unidad e impidiendo que el virus infecte la célula, procedimiento conocido como interferencia de ARN. El material genético se insertó en un virus inocuo con el que se infectó las células hepáticas de los ratones, terapia que redujo los niveles del virus en un 84,5%.
Aunque los experimentos están en sus primeros pasos, estos resultados se consideran prometedores, a juicio de los investigadores.
Webs Relacionadas
Stanford University
http://www.stanford.edu/
Nature Biotechnology
http://www.nature.com/nbt/
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