时差N小时 什么是儿童早衰症?(下)（在线收听）

When the lamin A protein is normally made, a chemical piece called farnesyl is lopped off.

当核纤层蛋白A的编码正常时，一种名叫法呢基的化学物质会从细胞核内脱落。

In the progeria cell, the farnesyl stays attached. The mutant protein remains sticky and piles up in the nucleus, altering the cell’s function.

而早衰细胞中的这一化学物质仍然包裹着细胞核。突变后的蛋白质黏着、堆积在细胞核内，改变了细胞的功能。

Progeria research is moving in two complementary directions.

关于儿童早衰症的研究正在向两个互补的方向发展。

Some scientists are working to find treatments for the disease with anti cancer, cholesterol lowering, bone strengthening, and immune suppressing drugs.

一些科学家尝试利用抗癌药、降脂药、健骨药、免疫抑制药寻找治疗该疾病的方法。

Others are interested in progeria’s similarity to aging.

另一些科学家则专注于早衰症与自然老化的相似点。

Progeria like changes have been found in unaffected older people’s skin cells.

一些未患早衰症的老年人的皮肤细胞中也出现了类似早衰症的变化。

A protein called prelamin A, which is similar to the mutant protein, increases at low levels and may contribute to hardening of the arteries and other problems that come with aging.

一种名为前层细胞A的蛋白质与突变后的蛋白质相似，其数量也在缓慢增加，这种蛋白可能会引起动脉硬化及其他老化过程中所出现的问题。

Though progeria is extremely rare, it may in fact hold the key to aging in all individuals.

虽然早衰症极为罕见，但它可能成为所有人衰老的关键线索。