Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in the monkey: humoral immunity and blood-brain barrier function

Generation of genetically-engineered animals using engineered endonucleases

The key to successful drug discovery and development is to find the most suitable animal model of human diseases for the preclinical studies. The recent emergence of engineered endonucleases is allowing for efficient and precise genome editing, which can be used to develop potentially useful animal models for human diseases. In particular, zinc finger nucleases, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, and the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat systems are revolutionizing the generation of diverse genetically-engineered experimental animals including mice, rats, rabbits, dogs, pigs, and even non-human primates that are commonly used for preclinical studies of the drug discovery. Here, we describe recent advances in engineered endonucleases and their application in various laboratory animals. We also discuss the importance of genome editing in animal models for more closely mimicking human diseases.

Increased Meningeal T and Plasma Cell Infiltration is Associated with Early Subpial Cortical Demyelination in Common Marmosets with Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Subpial cortical demyelination (SCD) accounts for the greatest proportion of demyelinated cortex in multiple sclerosis (MS). SCD is already found in biopsy cases with early MS and in marmosets with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), but the pathogenesis of SCD is not well understood. The objective of this study was to investigate whether and, if so, which meningeal inflammatory cells were associated with early SCD in marmosets with EAE. Immunohistochemistry was performed to analyze brain samples from eight control animals and eight marmosets immunized with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein. Meningeal T, B and plasma cells were quantified adjacent to SCD, normal-appearing EAE cortex (NAC) and control marmoset cortex. SCD areas appeared mostly hypocellular with low-grade microglial activation. In marmosets with EAE, meninges adjacent to SCD showed significantly increased T cells paralleled by elevated plasma cells, but unaltered B cell numbers compared with NAC. The elevation of meningeal T and plasma cells was a specific finding topographically associated with SCD, as the meninges overlying NAC displayed similarly low T, B and plasma cell numbers as control cortex. These findings suggest that local meningeal T and plasma cell infiltration contributes to the pathogenesis of SCD in marmosets with EAE.

Progress and prospects for genetic modification of nonhuman primate models in biomedical research

The growing interest of modeling human diseases using genetically modified (transgenic) nonhuman primates (NHPs) is a direct result of NHPs (rhesus macaque, etc.) close relation to humans. NHPs share similar developmental paths with humans in their anatomy, physiology, genetics, and neural functions; and in their cognition, emotion, and social behavior. The NHP model within biomedical research has played an important role in the development of vaccines, assisted reproductive technologies, and new therapies for many diseases. Biomedical research has not been the primary role of NHPs. They have mainly been used for safety evaluation and pharmacokinetics studies, rather than determining therapeutic efficacy. The development of the first transgenic rhesus macaque (2001) revolutionized the role of NHP models in biomedicine. Development of the transgenic NHP model of Huntington's disease (2008), with distinctive clinical features, further suggested the uniqueness of the model system; and the potential role of the NHP model for human genetic disorders. Modeling human genetic diseases using NHPs will continue to thrive because of the latest advances in molecular, genetic, and embryo technologies. NHPs rising role in biomedical research, specifically pre-clinical studies, is foreseeable. The path toward the development of transgenic NHPs and the prospect of transgenic NHPs in their new role in future biomedicine needs to be reviewed. This article will focus on the advancement of transgenic NHPs in the past decade, including transgenic technologies and disease modeling. It will outline new technologies that may have significant impact in future NHP modeling and will conclude with a discussion of the future prospects of the transgenic NHP model.

Cryopreservation of transgenic Huntington's disease rhesus macaque sperm-A Case Report

The cryoprotective effects of glycerol in three different semen freezing extenders, Tris-citrate (TRIS), TEST, and Tes-Tris-Egg yolk (TTE), on wild-type (WT) rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) sperm cryopreservation have been tested. Sperm motility and viability were examined to evaluate the integrity of frozen-thawed sperm, and the best extender was selected to cryopreserve sperm from transgenic Huntington's disease (HD) rhesus monkey. The results showed no post-thaw motility difference among the freezing extender tested (P>0.05). However, sperm membrane integrity in TEST and TTE were significantly better than in TRIS extender (P<0.05). TEST was chosen for HD rhesus monkey sperm cryopreservation. The results showed that post-thawed HD sperm motility and viability was not different compared with WT control group (P>0.05). The present study demonstrates that TEST and TTE were excellent extenders and suitable for rhesus monkey sperm cryopreservation and no detectible differences of post-thaw sperm motility and viability between HD and WT rhesus monkeys resulted from TEST extender.