绿茶和红光共同作用或有助治疗阿尔茨海默病
这听起来很奇怪，但是确实绿茶和红色光可以提供一种新颖的阿尔茨海默病疗法。当两者联合作用时，可以破坏充塞在患有这种疾病的人的大脑中令人讨厌的“病斑”。红光使得绿茶提取物更易于对这些病斑发挥效果。
德国乌尔姆大学的Andrei Sommer和同事此前曾利用波长为670nm的红光输送癌症药物到细胞中去。这种激光先将细胞中的水挤出，然后当关闭激光的时候，细胞就将其周围的水和其他分子，包括药物重新吸入到细胞中。
现在，Sommer的团队发现，相同的技术可以用于破坏阿尔茨海默病中的β淀粉样病斑。这些病斑由异常的折叠肽段组成，被认为正是其阻断了神经细胞间的交流，从而导致失忆及其他症状。
该研究团队将含有β淀粉质的脑细胞在儿茶素(EGCG)—一种具有β淀粉质抑制特性的绿茶提取物—中进行水浴，与此同时还用红光对细胞进行刺激。细胞中的β淀粉质减少了大约60%。如果只对细胞进行红光刺激则减少20%。
大脑很难吸收药物，但是动物实验表明，当结合红光进行口服时，绿茶提取物能够透过血脑屏障。这种可以透过组织和骨头的光刺激细胞线粒体启动提高屏障渗透性的过程，Sommer说道。
他补充说，还不能解释为什么其他能够破坏β淀粉质的药物不能通过这种方法递送至大脑。
“这项重要的研究为潜在的药物互补或无药物互补的阿尔茨海默病潜在疗法打下了基础，”西班牙坎布里尔斯的Vilafortuny医学研究所医学主管Mario Trelles说。
“所描述的这种技术可以帮助调节甚至是阻止这种疾病的发生，”他补充说。（生物探索译）
相关英文论文摘要：
670 nm Laser Light and EGCG Complementarily Reduce Amyloid-β Aggregates in Human Neuroblastoma Cells: Basis for Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease?
Objective: The aim of the present study is to present the results of in vitro experiments with possible relevance in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Background Data: Despite intensive research efforts, there is no treatment for AD. One root cause of AD is the extra- and intracellular deposition of amyloid-beta (Aβ) fibrils in the brain. Recently, it was shown that extracellular Aβ can enter brain cells, resulting in neurotoxicity.
Methods: After internalization of Aβ42 into human neuroblastoma (SH-EP) cells, they were irradiated with moderately intense 670-nm laser light (1000 Wm−2) and/or treated with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).
Results: In irradiated cells, Aβ42 aggregate amounts were significantly lower than in nonirradiated cells. Likewise, in EGCG-treated cells, Aβ42 aggregate amounts were significantly lower than in non-EGCG-treated cells. Except for the cells simultaneously laden with Aβ42 and EGCG, there was a significant increase in cell numbers in response to laser irradiation. EGCG alone had no effect on cell proliferation. Laser irradiation significantly increased ATP levels in Aβ42-free cells, when compared to nonirradiated cells. Laser-induced clearance of Aβ42 aggregates occurred at the expense of cellular ATP.
Conclusions: Irradiation with moderate levels of 670-nm light and EGCG supplementation complementarily reduces Aβ aggregates in SH-EP cells. Transcranial penetration of moderate levels of red to near-infrared (NIR) light has already been amply exploited in the treatment of patients with acute stroke; the blood–brain barrier (BBB) penetration of EGCG has been demonstrated in animals. We hope that our approach will inspire a practical therapy for AD.
英文论文链接：https://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/pho.2011.3073
