Gastrointestinal tract antigenic profile of cotton-top tamarin, Saguinus oedipus, is similar to that of humans with inflammatory bowel disease

The S100A7 nuclear interactors in autoimmune diseases: a coevolutionary study in mammals

S100A7, a member of the S100A family of Ca²⁺-binding proteins, is considered a key effector in immune response. In particular, S100A7 dysregulation has been associated with several diseases, including autoimmune disorders. At the nuclear level, S100A7 interacts with several protein-binding partners which are involved in transcriptional regulation and DNA repair. By using the BioGRID and GAAD databases, S100A7 nuclear interactors with a putative involvement in autoimmune diseases were retrieved. We selected fatty acid-binding protein 5 (FABP5), autoimmune regulator (AIRE), cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 4 (CHD4), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2), v-myc avian myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog (MYC), protection of telomeres protein 1 (POT1), telomeric repeat-binding factor (NIMA-interacting) 1 (TERF1), telomeric repeat-binding factor 2 (TERF2), and Zic family member 1 (ZIC1). Linear correlation coefficients between interprotein distances were calculated with MirrorTree. Coevolution clusters were also identified with the use of a recent version of the Blocks in Sequences (BIS2) algorithm implemented in the BIS2Analyzer web server. Analysis of pair positions identified interprotein coevolving clusters between S100A7 and the binding partners CFTR and TERF1. Such findings could guide further analysis to better elucidate the function of S100A7 and its binding partners and to design drugs targeting for these molecules in autoimmune diseases.

p38γ Activation and BGP (Biliary Glycoprotein) Induction in Primates at Risk for Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Colorectal Cancer-A Comparative Study with Humans

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common cause of cancer-related deaths largely due to CRC liver metastasis (CRLM). Identification of targetable mechanisms continues and includes investigations into the role of inflammatory pathways. Of interest, MAPK is aberrantly expressed in CRC patients, yet the activation status is not defined. The present study assessed p38γ activation in CRC patients, cancer cells, and tissues of cotton top tamarin (CTT) and common marmoset (CM). The primate world is an overlooked resource as colitis-CRC-prone CTT are usually inure to liver metastasis while CM develop colitis but not CRC. The results demonstrate that p38γ protein and phosphorylation levels are significantly increased in CRC patients compared to normal subjects and CTT. Furthermore, p38γ phosphorylation is significantly elevated in human CRC cells and hepatoblastoma cells but not in CM colon. Additionally, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and biliary glycoprotein (BGP) are induced in the CRC patients that showed p38γ phosphorylation. Inhibition of p38 MAPK in CRC cells showed a significant decline in cell growth with no effect on apoptosis or BGP level. Overall, p38γ is activated in CRC tumorigenesis and likely involves CEA antigens during CRLM in humans but not in the CTT or CM, that rarely develop CRLM.

Avoiding hepatic metastasis naturally: Lessons from the cotton top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus)

Much has been written about hepatic metastasis and animal models abound. In terms of the human experience, progress in treating this final common pathway, a terminal event of many human malignancies has been relatively slow. The current thinking is that primary prevention is best served by early detection of cancer and eradication of early stage cancers by screening. Some cancers spread early in their course and the role of screening may be limited. Until relatively recently there has not been a pathfinder model that makes the evasion of this unfortunate event a reality. This review discusses such an animal model and attempts to relate it to human disease in terms of intervention. Concrete proposals are also offered on how scientists may be able to intervene to prevent this deadly progression of the cancer process.

Colorectal cancer in the cotton top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus): how do they evade liver metastasis?

BACKGROUND AND AIM

A major cause of cancer-related deaths is the development of liver metastasis. To better understand the metastatic process, we studied the cotton top tamarin as an animal model, which spontaneously develops colorectal cancer but rarely liver metastasis.

METHOD

DNA was extracted from primates and Hot-Start PCR was performed. Sequencing was achieved with Big-Dye Terminator™ Sequencing Kit. Tissue expression and glycosylation studies were also performed for carcinoembryonic antigen family proteins.

RESULTS

Sixty-three percent of tamarin carcinoembryonic antigen had PELPK changes essential for carcinoembryonic antigen hepatic uptake. Tamarin carcinoembryonic antigen showed minimal glycosylation. Cotton top tamarin livers showed reduced carcinoembryonic antigen-receptor expression and were devoid of CEACAM1 (BGP) as compared to human liver despite positive expression in cotton top tamarin gallbladder mucosa. Peritumoral regions showed more CEACAM1 in human hepatocyte cytoplasm than in biliary canaliculi (P < 0.05). Therefore, tamarins may evade liver metastasis through mechanisms of decreased hepatic uptake by altered PELPK sequences, reduced glycosylation and reduced carcinoembryonic antigen-receptor expression. Furthermore, the absence of cotton top tamarin hepatocyte CEACAM1 may lead to alteration of the liver milieu creating an inhospitable "infertile-field" for metastases.

CONCLUSIONS

Four hypotheses explain a complex mechanism for the lack of liver metastasis: (1) carcinoembryonic antigen PELPK-encoding nucleotide sequence changes, (2) minimal carcinoembryonic antigen glycosylation, (3) reduced carcinoembryonic antigen-receptor expression, and (4) reduced CEACAM1 distribution, a putative vascular endothelial growth factor. While these hypotheses are not necessarily causal they are testable and therefore are feasible targets for prevention of hepatic metastasis in man.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-retargeted measles virus strains effectively target EGFR- or EGFRvIII expressing gliomas

A retargeted measles virus strain MV-GFP-H(AA)-scEGFR was generated by engineering the MV-NSe Edmonston vaccine strain to incorporate both CD46 (Y481A) and signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM) (R533A) ablating mutations in the hemagglutinin protein in combination with the display of a single-chain antibody against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) at the C terminus of hemagglutinin. The unmodified MV-GFP virus was used as a positive control. Specificity of the EGFR retargeted virus was demonstrated in non-permissive Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably transfected to express either the natural receptors CD46 or SLAM or the target receptors EGFR and EGFRvIII. In vitro, the retargeted virus had potent antitumor activity against EGFR- or EGFRvIII-overexpressing primary glioblastoma multi-forme (GBM) cell lines that was comparable to the activity of the unmodified MV-GFP virus. Intratumoral administration of MV-GFP-H(AA)-scEGFRvIII in orthotopic GBM12 xenografts resulted in tumor regression, as demonstrated by bioluminescence imaging and significant prolongation of survival, that was comparable to the effect of the unmodified strain. In contrast to MV-GFP, central nervous system administration of the targeted MV-GFP-H(AA)-scEGFR virus in measles replication-permissive Ifnar(ko) CD46 transgenic mice resulted in no neurotoxicity. In conclusion, EGFR-retargeted measles virus strains have comparable therapeutic efficacy to the unmodified virus in glioma cells overexpressing EGFR or EGFRvIII in vivo and in vitro, and improved therapeutic index, a finding with potential translational implications in glioma virotherapy.

A primer of primate pathology: lesions and nonlesions

Nonhuman primates are important laboratory animals for biomedical, pharmacology, and toxicology research. To effectively use primates as models, their gross and histologic anatomy, physiology and natural history, as well as common health problems and the source from which the primate is obtained, must be known and understood by pathologists involved in study design and/or interpretation. The first very important lesson in the "primer" is: there is no such thing as a generic monkey. Brand names (ie, species and subspecies) are important. Several taxonomic groups of primates are used in research including: prosimians, such as galagos and lemurs; New World monkeys, particularily marmosets; Old World monkeys, especially macaques and baboons; and the chimpanzee, an African ape. Differences between taxa are exemplified by the glucocorticoid resistance of New World monkeys compared to Old World monkeys, which results in the requirement for Vitamin D3 and their high circulating levels of steroids such as cortisone and progesterone. Differences in ovarian histology between Old and New World monkeys probably relate to steroid receptor biology as well. There are also variations in disease manifestations, even among closely related primate species such as rhesus and cynomolgus macaques (cynos). For example type D retrovirus infection is accompanied by lymphomas in cynos, but not rhesus. The second important lesson in this "primer" is: "not test article related" does not always mean "normal." Lymphoid nodules in bone marrow or salivary gland, a common background finding in macaques, often signal the presence of type D retrovirus. Other histologic changes and normal anatomic variations may be confusing to individuals not routinely examining primate tissues. The objective of this paper is to familiarize pathologists with the use of primates in research as well as lesions and nonlesions (normal anatomy or physiology) of primates that may influence study design and confound interpretation.