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Vanderlip CR, Jutras ML, Asch PA, Zhu SY, Lerma MN, Buffalo EA, Glavis-Bloom C. Parallel patterns of cognitive aging in marmosets and macaques. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.22.604411. [PMID: 39091859 PMCID: PMC11291085 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.22.604411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
As humans age, some experience cognitive impairment while others do not. When impairment does occur, it is not expressed uniformly across cognitive domains and varies in severity across individuals. Translationally relevant model systems are critical for understanding the neurobiological drivers of this variability, which is essential to uncovering the mechanisms underlying the brain's susceptibility to the effects of aging. As such, non-human primates are particularly important due to shared behavioral, neuroanatomical, and age-related neuropathological features with humans. For many decades, macaque monkeys have served as the primary non-human primate model for studying the neurobiology of cognitive aging. More recently, the common marmoset has emerged as an advantageous model for this work due to its short lifespan that facilitates longitudinal studies. Despite their growing popularity as a model, whether marmosets exhibit patterns of age-related cognitive impairment comparable to those observed in macaques and humans remains unexplored. To address this major limitation for the development and evaluation of the marmoset as a model of cognitive aging, we directly compared working memory ability as a function of age in macaques and marmosets on the identical working memory task. Our results demonstrate that marmosets and macaques exhibit remarkably similar age-related working memory deficits, highlighting the value of the marmoset as a model for cognitive aging research within the neuroscience community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey R. Vanderlip
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Megan L. Jutras
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Payton A. Asch
- Systems Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Stephanie Y. Zhu
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Monica N. Lerma
- Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Brain Science, Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Elizabeth A. Buffalo
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Courtney Glavis-Bloom
- Systems Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
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Homanics GE. Exploratory studies of ethanol drinking in the white-tufted marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). Alcohol 2024; 120:99-107. [PMID: 38971210 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2024.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
The white-tufted marmoset is a small, nonhuman primate that is rapidly gaining popularity as a model organism, especially for neuroscience research. To date, little work in the alcohol research field has utilized the marmoset. As a step toward establishing the marmoset as a research model for alcohol experimentation, a series of exploratory studies were undertaken to characterize ethanol drinking behavior. A voluntary drinking paradigm was established whereby the common marmoset would consume pharmacologically relevant amounts of ethanol. To facilitate ethanol consumption, ethanol was mixed with a marshmallow flavored solution (hereafter called marshmallow juice) to mask the presumed adverse taste of ethanol. Using marshmallow juice flavored solutions, marmosets readily consumed ethanol up to 1 g/kg during 10 min binge-like drinking sessions or up to 5 g/kg during ∼4 h drinking sessions. Consumption of 1.0-1.5 g/kg during a 30 min session resulted in blood ethanol concentrations of 49-73 mg/dl, which are predicted to be pharmacologically relevant. In animals that were stably consuming ethanol in marshmallow juice, gradually reducing the concentration of the marshmallow juice flavoring resulted in markedly reduced ethanol consumption. Lastly, when offered a choice between ethanol in marshmallow juice and marshmallow juice alone, marmosets displayed a very strong preference for the marshmallow juice solution without ethanol. From these studies, it is concluded that marmosets will voluntarily consume ethanol if the taste is masked with a sweet solution such as marshmallow juice. These studies represent the first report of alcohol consumption and preference in the white-tufted marmoset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregg E Homanics
- Departments of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, Neurobiology, and Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3501 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
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Homanics GE, Park JE, Bailey L, Schaeffer DJ, Schaeffer L, He J, Li S, Zhang T, Haber A, Spruce C, Greenwood A, Murai T, Schultz L, Mongeau L, Ha S, Oluoch J, Stein B, Choi SH, Huhe H, Thathiah A, Strick PL, Carter GW, Silva AC, Sukoff Rizzo SJ. Early molecular events of autosomal-dominant Alzheimer's disease in marmosets with PSEN1 mutations. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:3455-3471. [PMID: 38574388 PMCID: PMC11095452 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Fundamental questions remain about the key mechanisms that initiate Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the factors that promote its progression. Here we report the successful generation of the first genetically engineered marmosets that carry knock-in (KI) point mutations in the presenilin 1 (PSEN1) gene that can be studied from birth throughout lifespan. METHODS CRISPR/Cas9 was used to generate marmosets with C410Y or A426P point mutations in PSEN1. Founders and their germline offspring are comprehensively studied longitudinally using non-invasive measures including behavior, biomarkers, neuroimaging, and multiomics signatures. RESULTS Prior to adulthood, increases in plasma amyloid beta were observed in PSEN1 mutation carriers relative to non-carriers. Analysis of brain revealed alterations in several enzyme-substrate interactions within the gamma secretase complex prior to adulthood. DISCUSSION Marmosets carrying KI point mutations in PSEN1 provide the opportunity to study the earliest primate-specific mechanisms that contribute to the molecular and cellular root causes of AD onset and progression. HIGHLIGHTS We report the successful generation of genetically engineered marmosets harboring knock-in point mutations in the PSEN1 gene. PSEN1 marmosets and their germline offspring recapitulate the early emergence of AD-related biomarkers. Studies as early in life as possible in PSEN1 marmosets will enable the identification of primate-specific mechanisms that drive disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregg E. Homanics
- Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative MedicineUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of NeurobiologyUniversity of Pittsburgh Brain InstituteUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Jung Eun Park
- Department of NeurobiologyUniversity of Pittsburgh Brain InstituteUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Lauren Bailey
- Department of MedicineUniversity of Pittsburgh Aging Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - David J. Schaeffer
- Department of NeurobiologyUniversity of Pittsburgh Brain InstituteUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Lauren Schaeffer
- Department of NeurobiologyUniversity of Pittsburgh Brain InstituteUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Jie He
- Department of StatisticsUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Shuoran Li
- Department of StatisticsUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Tingting Zhang
- Department of StatisticsUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | | | | | | | - Takeshi Murai
- Department of MedicineUniversity of Pittsburgh Aging Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Laura Schultz
- Department of MedicineUniversity of Pittsburgh Aging Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Lauren Mongeau
- Department of MedicineUniversity of Pittsburgh Aging Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Seung‐Kwon Ha
- Department of NeurobiologyUniversity of Pittsburgh Brain InstituteUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Julia Oluoch
- Department of NeurobiologyUniversity of Pittsburgh Brain InstituteUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Brianne Stein
- Department of NeurobiologyUniversity of Pittsburgh Brain InstituteUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Sang Ho Choi
- Department of NeurobiologyUniversity of Pittsburgh Brain InstituteUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Hasi Huhe
- Department of MedicineUniversity of Pittsburgh Aging Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Amantha Thathiah
- Department of NeurobiologyUniversity of Pittsburgh Brain InstituteUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Peter L. Strick
- Department of NeurobiologyUniversity of Pittsburgh Brain InstituteUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | | | - Afonso C. Silva
- Department of NeurobiologyUniversity of Pittsburgh Brain InstituteUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Stacey J. Sukoff Rizzo
- Department of NeurobiologyUniversity of Pittsburgh Brain InstituteUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of MedicineUniversity of Pittsburgh Aging Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
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Huhe H, Shapley SM, Duong D, Wu F, Ha SK, Choi SH, Kofler J, Mou Y, Guimaraes TR, Thathiah A, Schaeffer LKH, Carter GW, Seyfried NT, Silva AC, Sukoff Rizzo SJ. Marmosets as model systems for the study of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias: substantiation of physiological Tau 3R and 4R isoform expression and phosphorylation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.26.590453. [PMID: 38746277 PMCID: PMC11092449 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.26.590453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Marmosets have been shown to spontaneously develop pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) during advanced age, including amyloid-beta plaques, positioning them as a model system to overcome the rodent-to-human translational gap for AD. However, Tau expression in the marmoset brain has been understudied. METHODS To comprehensively investigate Tau isoform expression in marmosets, brain tissue from eight unrelated marmosets across various ages was evaluated and compared to human postmortem AD tissue. Microtubule-associated protein tau ( MAPT ) mRNA expression and splicing were confirmed by RT-PCR. Tau isoforms in the marmoset brain were examined by western blot, mass spectrometry, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemical staining. Synaptic Tau expression was analyzed from crude synaptosome extractions. RESULTS 3R and 4R Tau isoforms are expressed in marmoset brains at both transcript and protein levels across ages. Results from western blot analysis were confirmed by mass spectrometry, which revealed that Tau peptides in marmoset corresponded to the 3R and 4R peptides in the human AD brain. 3R Tau was primarily enriched in neonate brains, and 4R enhanced in adult and aged brains. Tau was widely distributed in neurons with localization in the soma and synaptic regions. Phosphorylation residues were observed on Thr-181, Thr-217, and Thr-231, Ser202/Thr205, Ser396/Ser404. Paired helical filament (PHF)-like aggregates were also detected in aged marmosets. DISCUSSION Our results confirm the expression of both 3R and 4R Tau isoforms and important phosphorylation residues in the marmoset brain. These data emphasize the significance of marmosets with natural expression of AD-related hallmarks as important translational models for the study of AD.
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Murai T, Bailey L, Schultz L, Mongeau L, DeSana A, Silva AC, Roberts AC, Sukoff Rizzo SJ. Improving preclinical to clinical translation of cognitive function for aging-related disorders: the utility of comprehensive touchscreen testing batteries in common marmosets. COGNITIVE, AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2024; 24:325-348. [PMID: 38200282 PMCID: PMC11039501 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-023-01144-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Concerns about poor animal to human translation have come increasingly to the fore, in particular with regards to cognitive improvements in rodent models, which have failed to translate to meaningful clinical benefit in humans. This problem has been widely acknowledged, most recently in the field of Alzheimer's disease, although this issue pervades the spectrum of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, including neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative diseases. Consequently, recent efforts have focused on improving preclinical to clinical translation by incorporating more clinically analogous outcome measures of cognition, such as touchscreen-based assays, which can be employed across species, and have great potential to minimize the translational gap. For aging-related research, it also is important to incorporate model systems that facilitate the study of the long prodromal phase in which cognitive decline begins to emerge and which is a major limitation of short-lived species, such as laboratory rodents. We posit that to improve translation of cognitive function and dysfunction, nonhuman primate models, which have conserved anatomical and functional organization of the primate brain, are necessary to move the field of translational research forward and to bridge the translational gaps. The present studies describe the establishment of a comprehensive battery of touchscreen-based tasks that capture a spectrum of domains sensitive to detecting aging-related cognitive decline, which will provide the greatest benefit through longitudinal evaluation throughout the prolonged lifespan of the marmoset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Murai
- Aging Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Lauren Bailey
- Aging Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Laura Schultz
- Aging Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Lauren Mongeau
- Aging Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Andrew DeSana
- Aging Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Afonso C Silva
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 514A Bridgeside Point 1, 100 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA
| | - Angela C Roberts
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Stacey J Sukoff Rizzo
- Aging Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 514A Bridgeside Point 1, 100 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA.
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Phillips KA, Lopez M, Bartling-John E, Meredith R, Buteau A, Alvarez A, Ross CN. Serum biomarkers associated with aging and neurodegeneration in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). Neurosci Lett 2024; 819:137569. [PMID: 38000775 PMCID: PMC10841648 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), a small South American monkey, is an important nonhuman primate model in the study of aging and age-related neurodegenerative disease, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related dementias. Thorough characterization of the wild type marmoset brain agingmodel, including biomarkers of aging and neural degeneration, will further the marmoset's utility in translational research. We measured serum concentration of four key biomarkers of neural degeneration [total tau (T-tau), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neurofilament light chain (NfL), and ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1)] via single molecule array from 24 marmosets (female n = 13, male n = 11) ranging in age from 1.3 to 18.7 years. Aged marmosets (>7 years) had significantly higher GFAP, NfL, UCH-L1, and T-tau than adult marmosets. Sex differences were not detected for any of these biomarker concentrations. These data provide an important initial range of reference values for GFAP, NfL, T-tau, and UCH-L1 to evaluate aging and neural health in marmosets, as well as evaluation of therapeutics in clinical models of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberley A Phillips
- Department of Psychology, Trinity University, San Antonio Texas 78212, USA; Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio Texas USA.
| | - Matthew Lopez
- Department of Psychology, Trinity University, San Antonio Texas 78212, USA; Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio Texas USA
| | | | | | - Anna Buteau
- Department of Psychology, Trinity University, San Antonio Texas 78212, USA
| | - Addaline Alvarez
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio Texas USA
| | - Corinna N Ross
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio Texas USA; Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio Texas USA
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Khan F, Qiu H. Amyloid-β: A potential mediator of aging-related vascular pathologies. Vascul Pharmacol 2023; 152:107213. [PMID: 37625763 DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2023.107213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Aging is one of the most promising risk factors for vascular diseases, however, the precise mechanisms mediating aging-related pathologies are not fully understood. Amyloid beta (Aβ), a peptide produced by the proteolytic processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP), is known as a key mediator of brain damage involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently, it was found that the accumulation of Aβ in the vascular wall is linked to a range of aging-related vascular pathologies, indicating a potential role of Aβ in the pathogenesis of aging-associated vascular diseases. In the present review, we have updated the molecular regulation of Aβ in vascular cells and tissues, summarized the relevance of the Aβ deposition with vascular aging and diseases, and the role of Aβ dysregulation in aging-associated vascular pathologies, including the impaired vascular response, endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation. This review will provide advanced information in understanding aging-related vascular pathologies and a new avenue to explore therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fazlullah Khan
- Translational Cardiovascular Research Center, College of Medicine-Phoenix, The University of Arizona, Phoenix 85004, AZ, USA
| | - Hongyu Qiu
- Translational Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine-Phoenix, The University of Arizona, Phoenix 85004, AZ, USA.
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Vanderlip CR, Asch PA, Reynolds JH, Glavis-Bloom C. Domain-Specific Cognitive Impairment Reflects Prefrontal Dysfunction in Aged Common Marmosets. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0187-23.2023. [PMID: 37553239 PMCID: PMC10444537 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0187-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related cognitive impairment is not expressed uniformly across cognitive domains. Cognitive functions that rely on brain areas that undergo substantial neuroanatomical changes with age often show age-related impairment, whereas those that rely on brain areas with minimal age-related change typically do not. The common marmoset has grown in popularity as a model for neuroscience research, but robust cognitive phenotyping, particularly as a function of age and across multiple cognitive domains, is lacking. This presents a major limitation for the development and evaluation of the marmoset as a model of cognitive aging and leaves open the question of whether they exhibit age-related cognitive impairment that is restricted to some cognitive domains, as in humans. In this study, we characterized stimulus-reward association learning and cognitive flexibility in young adults to geriatric marmosets using a Simple Discrimination task and a Serial Reversal task, respectively. We found that aged marmosets show transient impairment in learning-to-learn but have conserved ability to form stimulus-reward associations. Furthermore, aged marmosets have impaired cognitive flexibility driven by susceptibility to proactive interference. As these impairments are in domains critically dependent on the prefrontal cortex, our findings support prefrontal cortical dysfunction as a prominent feature of neurocognitive aging. This work positions the marmoset as a key model for understanding the neural underpinnings of cognitive aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey R Vanderlip
- Systems Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037
| | - Payton A Asch
- Systems Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037
| | - John H Reynolds
- Systems Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037
| | - Courtney Glavis-Bloom
- Systems Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037
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Sukoff Rizzo SJ, Homanics G, Schaeffer DJ, Schaeffer L, Park JE, Oluoch J, Zhang T, Haber A, Seyfried NT, Paten B, Greenwood A, Murai T, Choi SH, Huhe H, Kofler J, Strick PL, Carter GW, Silva AC. Bridging the rodent to human translational gap: Marmosets as model systems for the study of Alzheimer's disease. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (NEW YORK, N. Y.) 2023; 9:e12417. [PMID: 37614242 PMCID: PMC10442521 DOI: 10.1002/trc2.12417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Our limited understanding of the mechanisms that trigger the emergence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has contributed to the lack of interventions that stop, prevent, or fully treat this disease. We believe that the development of a non-human primate model of AD will be an essential step toward overcoming limitations of other model systems and is crucial for investigating primate-specific mechanisms underlying the cellular and molecular root causes of the pathogenesis and progression of AD. Methods A new consortium has been established with funding support from the National Institute on Aging aimed at the generation, characterization, and validation of Marmosets As Research Models of AD (MARMO-AD). This consortium will study gene-edited marmoset models carrying genetic risk for AD and wild-type genetically diverse aging marmosets from birth throughout their lifespan, using non-invasive longitudinal assessments. These include characterizing the genetic, molecular, functional, behavioral, cognitive, and pathological features of aging and AD. Results The consortium successfully generated viable founders carrying PSEN1 mutations in C410Y and A426P using CRISPR/Cas9 approaches, with germline transmission demonstrated in the C410Y line. Longitudinal characterization of these models, their germline offspring, and normal aging outbred marmosets is ongoing. All data and resources from this consortium will be shared with the greater AD research community. Discussion By establishing marmoset models of AD, we will be able to investigate primate-specific cellular and molecular root causes that underlie the pathogenesis and progression of AD, overcome limitations of other model organisms, and support future translational studies to accelerate the pace of bringing therapies to patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gregg Homanics
- University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | | | - Lauren Schaeffer
- University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Jung Eun Park
- University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Julia Oluoch
- University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Tingting Zhang
- University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | | | | | - Benedict Paten
- University of California Santa Cruz Genomics InstituteUniversity of California Santa CruzSanta CruzCaliforniaUSA
| | | | - Takeshi Murai
- University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Sang Ho Choi
- University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Hasi Huhe
- University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Julia Kofler
- University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Peter L. Strick
- University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | | | - Afonso C. Silva
- University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
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10
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Glavis-Bloom C, Vanderlip CR, Asch PA, Reynolds JH. Domain-specific cognitive impairment reflects prefrontal dysfunction in aged common marmosets. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.22.541766. [PMID: 37292989 PMCID: PMC10245905 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.22.541766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Age-related cognitive impairment is not expressed uniformly across cognitive domains. Cognitive functions that rely on brain areas that undergo substantial neuroanatomical changes with age often show age-related impairment, while those that rely on brain areas with minimal age-related change typically do not. The common marmoset has grown in popularity as a model for neuroscience research, but robust cognitive phenotyping, particularly as a function of age and across multiple cognitive domains, is lacking. This presents a major limitation for the development and evaluation of the marmoset as a model of cognitive aging, and leaves open the question of whether they exhibit age-related cognitive impairment that is restricted to some cognitive domains, as in humans. In this study, we characterized stimulus-reward association learning and cognitive flexibility in young adults to geriatric marmosets using a Simple Discrimination and a Serial Reversal task, respectively. We found that aged marmosets show transient impairment in "learning-to-learn" but have conserved ability to form stimulus-reward associations. Furthermore, aged marmosets have impaired cognitive flexibility driven by susceptibility to proactive interference. Since these impairments are in domains critically dependent on the prefrontal cortex, our findings support prefrontal cortical dysfunction as a prominent feature of neurocognitive aging. This work positions the marmoset as a key model for understanding the neural underpinnings of cognitive aging. Significance Statement Aging is the greatest risk factor for neurodegenerative disease development, and understanding why is critical for the development of effective therapeutics. The common marmoset, a short-lived non-human primate with neuroanatomical similarity to humans, has gained traction for neuroscientific investigations. However, the lack of robust cognitive phenotyping, particularly as a function of age and across multiple cognitive domains limits their validity as a model for age-related cognitive impairment. We demonstrate that aging marmosets, like humans, have impairment that is specific to cognitive domains reliant on brain areas that undergo substantial neuroanatomical changes with age. This work validates the marmoset as a key model for understanding region-specific vulnerability to the aging process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney Glavis-Bloom
- Systems Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Casey R Vanderlip
- Systems Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Payton A Asch
- Systems Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - John H Reynolds
- Systems Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037
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Rodríguez-Callejas JD, Fuchs E, Perez-Cruz C. Atrophic astrocytes in aged marmosets present tau hyperphosphorylation, RNA oxidation, and DNA fragmentation. Neurobiol Aging 2023; 129:121-136. [PMID: 37302213 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2023.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes perform multiple essential functions in the brain showing morphological changes. Hypertrophic astrocytes are commonly observed in cognitively healthy aged animals, implying a functional defense mechanism without losing neuronal support. In neurodegenerative diseases, astrocytes show morphological alterations, such as decreased process length and reduced number of branch points, known as astroglial atrophy, with detrimental effects on neuronal cells. The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is a non-human primate that, with age, develops several features that resemble neurodegeneration. In this study, we characterize the morphological alterations in astrocytes of adolescent (mean 1.75 y), adult (mean 5.33 y), old (mean 11.25 y), and aged (mean 16.83 y) male marmosets. We observed a significantly reduced arborization in astrocytes of aged marmosets compared to younger animals in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. These astrocytes also show oxidative damage to RNA and increased nuclear plaques in the cortex and tau hyperphosphorylation (AT100). Astrocytes lacking S100A10 protein show a more severe atrophy and DNA fragmentation. Our results demonstrate the presence of atrophic astrocytes in the brains of aged marmosets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan D Rodríguez-Callejas
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Department of Pharmacology, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Eberhard Fuchs
- German Primate Center, Leibniz-Institute of Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Perez-Cruz
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Department of Pharmacology, Mexico City, Mexico.
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