Old World Nonhuman Primate Models of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Developments in the study of Chinese herbal medicine's assessment index and action mechanism for diabetes mellitus

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), based on various pathogenic symptoms and the 'golden chamber' medical text, Huangdi Neijing, diabetes mellitus falls under the category 'collateral disease'. TCM, with its wealth of experience, has been treating diabetes for over two millennia. Different antidiabetic Chinese herbal medicines reduce blood sugar, with their effective ingredients exerting unique advantages. As well as a glucose lowering effect, TCM also regulates bodily functions to prevent diabetes associated complications, with reduced side effects compared to western synthetic drugs. Chinese herbal medicine is usually composed of polysaccharides, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids. These active ingredients reduce blood sugar via various mechanism of actions that include boosting endogenous insulin secretion, enhancing insulin sensitivity and adjusting key enzyme activity and scavenging free radicals. These actions regulate glycolipid metabolism in the body, eventually achieving the goal of normalizing blood glucose. Using different animal models, a number of molecular markers are available for the detection of diabetes induction and the molecular pathology of the disease is becoming clearer. Nonetheless, there is a dearth of scientific data about the pharmacology, dose-effect relationship, and structure-activity relationship of TCM and its constituents. Further research into the efficacy, toxicity and mode of action of TCM, using different metabolic and molecular markers, is key to developing novel TCM antidiabetic formulations.

A spontaneous hyperglycaemic cynomolgus monkey presents cognitive deficits, neurological dysfunction and cataract

Chronic hyperglycaemia is a chief feature of diabetes mellitus and complicates with many systematic anomalies. Non-human primates (NHPs) are excellent for studying hyperglycaemia or diabetes and associated comorbidities, but lack behavioural observation. In the study, behavioural, brain imaging and histological analysis were performed in a case of spontaneously hyperglycaemic (HGM) Macaca fascicularis. The results were shown that the HGM monkey had persistent body weight loss, long-term hyperglycaemia, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, but normal concentrations of insulin, C-peptide, insulin autoantibody, islet cell antibody and glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody. Importantly, an impaired working memory in a delayed response task and neurological dysfunctions were found in the HGM monkey. The tendency for atrophy in hippocampus was observed by magnetic resonance imaging. Lenticular opacification, lens fibres disruptions and vacuole formation also occurred to the HGM monkey. The data suggested that the spontaneous HGM monkey might present diabetes-like characteristics and associated neurobehavioral anomalies in this case. This study first reported cognitive deficits in a spontaneous hyperglycaemia NHPs, which might provide evidence to use macaque as a promising model for translational research in diabetes and neurological complications.

An analysis of risk factors for spontaneously occurring type 2 diabetes mellitus in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

BACKGROUND

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2D) is a chronic disease with a high prevalence worldwide. Human literature suggests factors beyond well-known risk factors (e.g., age, body mass index) for T2D: cytomegalovirus serostatus, season of birth, maternal age, birth weight, and depression. Nothing is known, however, about whether these variables are influential in primate models of T2D.

METHODS

Using a retrospective methodology, we identified 22 cases of spontaneously occurring T2D among rhesus monkeys at our facility. A control sample of n = 1199 was identified.

RESULTS

Animals born to mothers that were ≤5.5 years of age, and animals that showed heightened Activity and Emotionality in response to brief separation in infancy, had a greater risk for development of T2D in adulthood.

CONCLUSIONS

Knowledge of additional risk factors for T2D could help colony managers better identify at-risk animals and enable diabetes researchers to select animals that might be more responsive to their manipulations.

A multi-tissue metabolome atlas of primate pregnancy

Pregnancy induces dramatic metabolic changes in females; yet, the intricacies of this metabolic reprogramming remain poorly understood, especially in primates. Using cynomolgus monkeys, we constructed a comprehensive multi-tissue metabolome atlas, analyzing 273 samples from 23 maternal tissues during pregnancy. We discovered a decline in metabolic coupling between tissues as pregnancy progressed. Core metabolic pathways that were rewired during primate pregnancy included steroidogenesis, fatty acid metabolism, and arachidonic acid metabolism. Our atlas revealed 91 pregnancy-adaptive metabolites changing consistently across 23 tissues, whose roles we verified in human cell models and patient samples. Corticosterone and palmitoyl-carnitine regulated placental maturation and maternal tissue progenitors, respectively, with implications for maternal preeclampsia, diabetes, cardiac hypertrophy, and muscle and liver regeneration. Moreover, we found that corticosterone deficiency induced preeclampsia-like inflammation, indicating the atlas's potential clinical value. Overall, our multi-tissue metabolome atlas serves as a framework for elucidating the role of metabolic regulation in female health during pregnancy.

Long-term dasatinib plus quercetin effects on aging outcomes and inflammation in nonhuman primates: implications for senolytic clinical trial design

Cellular senescence increases with aging and results in secretion of pro-inflammatory factors that induce local and systemic tissue dysfunction. We conducted the first preclinical trial in a relevant middle-aged nonhuman primate (NHP) model to allow estimation of the main translatable effects of the senolytic combination dasatinib (D) and quercetin (Q), with and without caloric restriction (CR). A multi-systemic survey of age-related changes, including those on immune cells, adipose tissue, the microbiome, and biomarkers of systemic organ and metabolic health are reported. Age-, weight-, sex-, and glycemic control-matched NHPs (D + Q, n = 9; vehicle [VEH] n = 7) received two consecutive days of D + Q (5 mg/kg + 50 mg/kg) monthly for 6 months, where in month six, a 10% CR was implemented in both D + Q and VEH NHPs to induce equal weight reductions. D + Q reduced senescence marker gene expressions in adipose tissue and circulating PAI-1 and MMP-9. Improvements were observed in immune cell types with significant anti-inflammatory shifts and reductions in microbial translocation biomarkers, despite stable microbiomes. Blood urea nitrogen showed robust improvements with D + Q. CR resulted in significant positive body composition changes in both groups with further improvement in immune cell profiles and decreased GDF15 (p = 0.05), and the interaction of D + Q and CR dramatically reduced glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (p = 0.03). This work indicates that 6 months of intermittent D + Q exposure is safe and may combat inflammaging via immune benefits and improved intestinal barrier function. We also saw renal benefits, and with CR, improved metabolic health. These data are intended to provide direction for the design of larger controlled intervention trials in older patients.

Gut microbiota-derived tryptamine and phenethylamine impair insulin sensitivity in metabolic syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome

The incidence of metabolic syndrome is significantly higher in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but the mechanisms involved remain unclear. Gut microbiota is causatively linked with the development of both metabolic dysfunctions and gastrointestinal disorders, thus gut dysbiosis in IBS may contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome. Here, we show that human gut bacterium Ruminococcus gnavus-derived tryptamine and phenethylamine play a pathogenic role in gut dysbiosis-induced insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes (T2D) and IBS. We show levels of R. gnavus, tryptamine, and phenethylamine are positively associated with insulin resistance in T2D patients and IBS patients. Monoassociation of R. gnavus impairs insulin sensitivity and glucose control in germ-free mice. Mechanistically, treatment of R. gnavus-derived metabolites tryptamine and phenethylamine directly impair insulin signaling in major metabolic tissues of healthy mice and monkeys and this effect is mediated by the trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling axis. Our findings suggest a causal role for tryptamine/phenethylamine-producers in the development of insulin resistance, provide molecular mechanisms for the increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome in IBS, and highlight the TAAR1 signaling axis as a potential therapeutic target for the management of metabolic syndrome induced by gut dysbiosis.

Classifying Kidney Disease in a Vervet Model Using Spatially Encoded Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Perfusion Parameters

Early stages of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) are difficult to diagnose in patients with type 2 diabetes. This work was aimed at identifying contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) perfusion parameters, a microcirculatory biomarker indicative of early DKD progression. CEUS kidney flash-replenishment data were acquired in control, insulin resistant and diabetic vervet monkeys (N = 16). By use of a mono-exponential model, time-intensity curve parameters related to blood volume (A), velocity (β) and flow rate (perfusion index [PI]) were extracted from 10 concentric kidney layers to study spatial perfusion patterns that could serve as strong indicators of disease. Mean squared error (MSE) was used to assess model performance. Features calculated from the perfusion parameters were inputs for the linear regression models to determine which features could distinguish between cohorts. The mono-exponential model performed well, with average MSEs (±standard deviation) of 0.0254 (±0.0210), 0.0321 (±0.0242) and 0.0287 (±0.0130) for the control, insulin resistant and diabetic cohorts, respectively. Perfusion index features, with blood pressure, were the best classifiers between cohorts (p < 0.05). CEUS has the potential to detect early microvascular changes, providing insight into disease-related structural changes in the kidney. The sensitivity of this technique should be explored further by assessing various stages of DKD.

Preliminary serum and fecal metabolomics study of spontaneously diabetic cynomolgus monkeys based on LC-MS/MS

BACKGROUND

Using untargeted metabolomics techniques, the goal of the study is to differentially screen serum and feces metabolite profiles of spontaneously diabetic and healthy cynomolgus monkeys, to explore potential serum and fecal biomarkers and analyze affected metabolic pathways.

METHODS

We adopted the diagnostic criteria for T2DM recommended by ADA for humans: FSG ≥7.0 mmol/L (126 mg/dl) and HbA1c ≥ 6.5%. The serum and feces samples from three diagnosed spontaneously T2DM cynomolgus monkeys and 11 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study. We employed LC-MS/MS-based untargeted metabolomic methods to reveal the differential metabolite profiles of serum and feces samples between the two groups and to analyze the affected metabolic pathways in MetaboAnalyst 5.0 based on KEGG library.

RESULTS

Six and 44 differential metabolites were identified in serum and feces samples, respectively, and the corresponding affected commonly metabolic pathways involved several metabolic ways, such as arginine biosynthesis, pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis, and histidine metabolism.

CONCLUSION

The differential potential serum and feces biomarkers obtained from the LC-MS/MS based untargeted metabolomic may help to explain the potential pathophysiological mechanisms of T2DM and offer pivotal information for the early diagnosis and treatment of DM.

Psychosocial stress increases risk for type 2 diabetes in female cynomolgus macaques consuming a western diet

Chronic psychosocial stress is associated with increased risk of many chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, it is difficult to establish a causal relationship between stress and diabetes in human studies because stressors often are self-reported and may be distant in time from metabolic consequences. Macaques are useful models of the effects of chronic psychosocial stress on health and may develop obesity and diabetes similar to human beings. Thus, we studied the relationships between social subordination stress - a well-validated psychological stressor in macaques - and body composition and carbohydrate metabolism in socially housed, middle-aged female cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis; n = 42). Following an 8-week baseline phase, the monkeys were fed a Western diet for 36 months (about equivalent to 10 human years). Social status was determined based on the outcomes of agonistic interactions (X¯= 33.3 observation hours/monkey). Phenotypes collected included plasma cortisol, body composition, circulating markers of glucose metabolism, activity levels, and heart rate variability measured as RMSSD (root of mean square of successive differences) and SDDN (standard deviation of beat to beat interval) after 1.5- and 3-years on diet. Mixed model analyses of variance revealed that aggression received, submissions sent, and cortisol were higher, and RMSSD and SDNN were lower in subordinates than dominants (social status: p < 0.05). After 3 years of Western diet consumption, fasting triglyceride, glucose and insulin concentrations, calculated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), body weight and body fat mass increased in all animals (time: all p's < 0.05); however, the increase in fasting glucose and HOMA-IR was significantly greater in subordinates than dominants (time x social status: p's < 0.05). Impaired glucose metabolism, (glucose > 100 mg/dl) incidence was significantly higher in subordinates (23%) than dominants (0%) (Fisher's exact test, p < 0.05). These findings suggest that chronic psychosocial stress, on a Western diet background, significantly increases type 2 diabetes risk in middle-aged female primates.

Organ Weights in Relation to Age and Sex in Cynomolgus Monkeys (Macaca fascicularis)

Laboratory animal research is an important contributor to both human and animal medicine. Currently, there is extensive use of cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) in pathology and toxicology research. The purpose of this study was to define reference values for absolute and percentage organ weights in M fascicularis of different ages and sex. Organ weights were obtained from necropsies of 1022 cynomolgus monkeys at the Wake Forest School of Medicine from 1997 to 2018. Distributions of absolute and percentage weights for each organ were described; sex and age groups were compared using analysis of variance. Age effects on percentage of body weights for each organ were analyzed within each sex. Diet effects were also analyzed. This evaluation showed that male body weights and absolute organ weights were greater for all age groups; however, female organ to body weight percentages were greater for most organs. Percentage of organ weight to body weight declined for the adrenals, brain, lung, thyroid and thymus during maturation, whereas percentage weight of pancreas, prostate, testes, and uterus increased. Animals consuming a high-fat, Western-type diet had a lower body weight than animals consuming a carbohydrate-rich chow diet. This information will be useful for further toxicology and pathology studies concerning cynomolgus monkeys.

Clinicopathologic characteristics of pancreatic islet amyloidosis in the rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) and Sooty Mangabey (Cercocebus atys)

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus type 2 has been linked to pancreatic islet amyloid deposition in humans and nonhuman primates. The authors hypothesized that diabetic primates would have significant differences in pathology than non-diabetic groups.

METHODS

This retrospective study used histopathology and immunohistochemistry to characterize and compare pancreatic islet amyloidosis in 58 diabetic and non-diabetic rhesus macaque (RM) and sooty mangabeys (SM).

RESULTS

The pancreatic tissues from diabetic RM and SM showed higher histopathology scores for islet amyloid deposit distribution, severity, and calcification deposits compared to their respective non-diabetic cohorts. Further, these tissues from RM and SM with amyloid deposits showed immunoreactivity to insulin, glucagon, islet amyloid polypeptide, serum amyloid P, and glucagon-like peptide 1.

CONCLUSIONS

Histopathology results showed that the defined amyloid characteristics are associated with clinical diabetes in both species. The immunohistochemistry results collectively suggest differences in pancreatic hormones and islet amyloid components among both species and diabetic status.

Naturally Occurring Endocrine Disorders in Non-Human Primates: A Comprehensive Review

Simple Summary

Nonhuman primates (NHP) can become ill due to a variety of diseases and disorders, yet endocrine disorders remain underreported. Therefore, an exhaustive literature search on this subject via widely used academic search systems, peer-reviewed publications, proceedings, and newsletters was performed. Selected major endocrine entities will be described emphasizing clinical signs, morphologic features, concomitant diseases, as well as available treatment options. In most cases, no clinical signs were noted and on gross pathology, the endocrine organs were unremarkable. The diagnosis was frequently made as incidental findings after standard histological examination. Although the findings were frequently incidental many have the potential to impact studies. This review explains that there is no standard procedure for diagnosing, monitoring, or treating endocrine disorders in NHP. More research is needed to evaluate these procedures and establish risk factors.

Abstract

Literature concerning veterinary medicine of non-human primates is continuously updated, yet endocrine disorders remain underreported. While case or survey reports of individual endocrinopathies are available, a comprehensive review is not. An exhaustive literature search on this subject via widely used academic search systems, (e.g., Google Scholar, PubMed, BioOne complete and Web of Science), and peer-reviewed publications, proceedings, and newsletters was performed. Selected major endocrine entities will be described with emphasis on clinical signs, morphologic appearances, concomitant diseases, as well as available treatment options. Mostly, no clinical signs were noted and on gross pathology, the endocrine organs were unremarkable. An endocrine-related diagnosis was frequently made as an incidental finding after standard histopathological examination. During the review, the pancreas represented the most affected endocrine organ and diabetes mellitus represented the most clinically significant disorder. Currently, no standard procedure for diagnosing, monitoring, or treating endocrine disorders in non-human primates exists.

A nonhuman primate model of vertical sleeve gastrectomy facilitates mechanistic and translational research in human obesity

The obesity epidemic significantly contributes to overall morbidity and mortality. Bariatric surgery is the gold standard treatment for obesity and metabolic dysfunction, yet the mechanisms by which it exerts metabolic benefit remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate a model of vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) in nonhuman primates (NHP) that mimics the complexity and outcomes in humans. We also show that VSG confers weight loss and durable metabolic benefit, where equivalent caloric intake in shams resulted in significant weight gain following surgery. Furthermore, we show that VSG is associated with early, weight-independent increases in bile acids, short-chain fatty acids, and reduced visceral adipose tissue (VAT) inflammation with a polarization of VAT-resident immunocytes toward highly regulatory myeloid cells and Tregs. These data demonstrate that this strongly translational NHP model can be used to interrogate factors driving successful intervention to unravel the interplay between physiologic systems and improve therapies for obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Retrospective Evaluation of a Minor Dietary Change in Non-Diabetic Group-Housed Long-Tailed Macaques (Macaca fascicularis)

Macaques in captivity are prone to becoming overweight and obese, which may cause several health problems. A diet that mimics the natural diet of macaques may prevent these problems and improve animal welfare. Adjusting captive diets towards a more natural composition may include increasing fiber content and lowering the glycemic index, i.e., reducing the impact on blood glucose levels. Such a dietary change was implemented in our long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) breeding colony. The basic diet of monkey chow pellets remained the same, while the supplementary provisioning of bread was replaced by grains and vegetables. This study is a retrospective evaluation, based on electronic health records, that investigated whether this minor dietary change had a beneficial effect on relative adiposity and overweight-related health parameters in 44 non-diabetic, group-housed, female long-tailed macaques. Relative adiposity was measured with a weight-for-height index and blood samples were collected during yearly health checks. Glycemic response and lipid metabolism were evaluated using several biochemical parameters. Relative adiposity and overweight status did not differ after dietary change. Yet, relatively heavy individuals generally lost body weight, while relatively lean individuals gained body weight, leading to a more balanced body weight dynamic. Dietary change did not affect HbA1c and triglyceride levels, while fructosamine and cholesterol levels were significantly reduced. Thus, the minor dietary change had no significant effect on overweight status, but some biochemical parameters related to the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease were positively affected. This study emphasizes the importance of evaluating husbandry changes and that critically reviewing husbandry practices can provide valuable insights to improve animal health and welfare.

Research('s) Sweet Hearts: Experimental Biomedical Models of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

Diabetes and the often accompanying cardiovascular diseases including cardiomyopathy represent a complex disease, that is reluctant to reveal the molecular mechanisms and underlying cellular responses. Current research projects on diabetic cardiomyopathy are predominantly based on animal models, in which there are not only obvious advantages, such as genetics that can be traced over generations and the directly measurable influence of dietary types, but also not despisable disadvantages. Thus, many studies are built up on transgenic rodent models, which are partly comparable to symptoms in humans due to their genetic alterations, but on the other hand are also under discussion regarding their clinical relevance in the translation of biomedical therapeutic approaches. Furthermore, a focus on transgenic rodent models ignores spontaneously occurring diabetes in larger mammals (such as dogs or pigs), which represent with their anatomical similarity to humans regarding their cardiovascular situation appealing models for testing translational approaches. With this in mind, we aim to shed light on the currently most popular animal models for diabetic cardiomyopathy and, by weighing the advantages and disadvantages, provide decision support for future animal experimental work in the field, hence advancing the biomedical translation of promising approaches into clinical application.

Effects of mixed meal tolerance test on gastric emptying, glucose and lipid homeostasis in obese nonhuman primates

Meal ingestion elicits a variety of neuronal, physiological and hormonal responses that differ in healthy, obese or diabetic individuals. The mixed meal tolerance test (MMTT) is a well-established method to evaluate pancreatic β-cell reserve and glucose homeostasis in both preclinical and clinical research in response to calorically defined meal. Nonhuman primates (NHPs) are highly valuable for diabetic research as they can naturally develop type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a way similar to the onset and progression of human T2DM. The purpose of this study was to investigate the reproducibility and effects of a MMTT containing acetaminophen on plasma glucose, insulin, C-peptide, incretin hormones, lipids, acetaminophen appearance (a surrogate marker for gastric emptying) in 16 conscious obese cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). Plasma insulin, C-peptide, TG, aGLP-1, tGIP, PYY and acetaminophen significantly increased after meal/acetaminophen administration. A subsequent study in 6 animals showed that the changes of plasma glucose, insulin, C-peptide, lipids and acetaminophen were reproducible. There were no significant differences in responses to the MMTT among the obese NHPs with (n = 11) or without (n = 5) hyperglycemia. Our results demonstrate that mixed meal administration induces significant secretion of several incretins which are critical for maintaining glucose homeostasis. In addition, the responses to the MMTTs are reproducible in NHPs, which is important when the MMTT is used for evaluating post-meal glucose homeostasis in research.

Comparison of Insulins Glargine and Degludec in Diabetic Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta) with CGM Devices

Treating and monitoring type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in NHP can be challenging. Multiple insulin and hypoglycemic therapies and management tools exist, but few studies demonstrate their benefits in a NHP clinical setting. The insulins glargine and degludec are long-acting insulins; their duration of action in humans exceeds 24 and 42 h, respectively. In the first of this study's 2 components, we evaluated whether insulin degludec could be dosed daily at equivalent units to glargine to achieve comparable blood glucose (BG) reduction in diabetic rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices. The second component assessed the accuracy of CGM devices in rhesus macaques by comparing time-stamped CGM interstitial glucose values, glucometer BG readings, and BG levels measured by using an automated clinical chemistry analyzer from samples that were collected at the beginning and end of each CGM device placement. The CGM devices collected a total of 21,637 glucose data points from 6 diabetic rhesus macaques that received glargine followed by degludec every 24 h for 1 wk each. Ultimately, glucose values averaged 29 mg/dL higher with degludec than with glargine. Glucose values were comparable between the CGM device, glucometer, and chemistry analyzer, thus validating that CGM devices as reliable for measuring BG levels in rhesus macaques. Although glargine was superior to degludec when given at the same dose (units/day), both are safe and effective treatment options. Glucose values from CGM, glucometers, and chemistry analyzers provided results that were analogous to BG values in rhesus macaques. Our report further highlights critical clinical aspects of using glargine as compared with degludec in NHP and the benefits of using CGM devices in macaques.

A Role of Glucose Overload in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy in Nonhuman Primates

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) plays a major role in the development of heart failure. Patients with T2D have an increased risk to develop HF than healthy subjects, and they always have very poor outcomes and survival rates. However, the underlying mechanisms for this are still unclear. To help develop new therapeutic interventions, well-characterized animal models for preclinical and translational investigations in T2D and HF are urgently needed. Although studies in rodents are more often used, the research findings in rodents have often failed to be translated into humans due to the significant metabolic differences between rodents and humans. Nonhuman primates (NHPs) serve as valuable translational models between basic studies in rodent models and clinical studies in humans. NHPs can recapitulate the natural progress of these diseases in humans and study the underlying mechanism due to their genetic similarity and comparable spontaneous T2D rates to humans. In this review, we discuss the importance of using NHPs models in understanding diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) in humans with aspects of correlations between hyperglycemia and cardiac dysfunction progression, glucose overload, and altered glucose metabolism promoting cardiac oxidative stress and mitochondria dysfunction, glucose, and its effect on cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator (CRT-d), the currently available diabetic NHPs models and the limitations involved in the use of NHP models.

Skeletal muscle extracellular matrix remodeling with worsening glycemic control in nonhuman primates

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) development may be mediated by skeletal muscle (SkM) function, which is responsible for >80% of circulating glucose uptake. The goals of this study were to assess changes in global- and location-level gene expression, remodeling proteins, fibrosis, and vascularity of SkM with worsening glycemic control, through RNA sequencing, immunoblotting, and immunostaining. We evaluated SkM samples from health-diverse African green monkeys (Cholorcebus aethiops sabaeus) to investigate these relationships. We assessed SkM remodeling at the molecular level by evaluating unbiased transcriptomics in age-, sex-, weight-, and waist circumference-matched metabolically healthy, prediabetic (PreT2D) and T2D monkeys (n = 13). Our analysis applied novel location-specific gene differences and shows that extracellular facing and cell membrane-associated genes and proteins are highly upregulated in metabolic disease. We verified transcript patterns using immunohistochemical staining and protein analyses of matrix metalloproteinase 16 (MMP16), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP2), and VEGF. Extracellular matrix (ECM) functions to support intercellular communications, including the coupling of capillaries to muscle cells, which was worsened with increasing blood glucose. Multiple regression modeling from age- and health-diverse monkeys (n = 33) revealed that capillary density was negatively predicted by only fasting blood glucose. The loss of vascularity in SkM co-occurred with reduced expression of hypoxia-sensing genes, which is indicative of a disconnect between altered ECM and reduced endothelial cells, and known perfusion deficiencies present in PreT2D and T2D. This report supports that rising blood glucose values incite ECM remodeling and reduce SkM capillarization, and that targeting ECM would be a rational approach to improve health with metabolic disease.

A hexavalent Coxsackievirus B vaccine is highly immunogenic and has a strong protective capacity in mice and nonhuman primates

Coxsackievirus B (CVB) enteroviruses are common human pathogens known to cause severe diseases including myocarditis, chronic dilated cardiomyopathy, and aseptic meningitis. CVBs are also hypothesized to be a causal factor in type 1 diabetes. Vaccines against CVBs are not currently available, and here we describe the generation and preclinical testing of a novel hexavalent vaccine targeting the six known CVB serotypes. We show that the vaccine has an excellent safety profile in murine models and nonhuman primates and that it induces strong neutralizing antibody responses to the six serotypes in both species without an adjuvant. We also demonstrate that the vaccine provides immunity against acute CVB infections in mice, including CVB infections known to cause virus-induced myocarditis. In addition, it blocks CVB-induced diabetes in a genetically permissive mouse model. Our preclinical proof-of-concept studies demonstrate the successful generation of a promising hexavalent CVB vaccine with high immunogenicity capable of preventing CVB-induced diseases.

Establishment of a diabetes mellitus type 1 model in the common marmoset

Common marmosets have attracted considerable attention as a small standard primate model in biomedical research. However, no marmoset diabetes model is available. Here, we established a marmoset diabetes model via the combination of partial pancreatectomy and intravenous streptozotocin (STZ). A partial pancreatectomy was performed in 11 common marmosets and multiple STZ doses were intravenously administered. Diabetes was diagnosed upon sustained hyperglycaemia (nonfasting blood glucose level >200 mg/dl). Blood glucose and biochemistry were periodically assessed, in addition to glucose tolerance testing, continual blood glucose determination using a continuous glucose monitoring system, urine testing and histological evaluation. In 8 of the 11 animals (73%), diabetes mellitus was induced. The diabetic marmosets also showed abnormal intravenous and oral glucose tolerance test results. Blood glucose levels decreased in response to human insulin administration. The hyperglycaemic state was irreversible and persisted for more than 3 months, and the animals’ condition was manageable via daily insulin administration. Thus, diabetes can be successfully induced and maintained in the common marmoset via partial pancreatectomy and STZ administration. This protocol effectively generates a valuable animal model for studying disease pathogenesis, risk factors and therapeutic interventions, including islet transplantation.

Type-2-Diabetes Alters CSF but Not Plasma Metabolomic and AD Risk Profiles in Vervet Monkeys

Epidemiological studies suggest that individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have a twofold to fourfold increased risk for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD), however, the exact mechanisms linking the two diseases are unknown. In both conditions, the majority of pathophysiological changes, including glucose and insulin dysregulation, insulin resistance, and AD-related changes in Aβ and tau, occur decades before the onset of clinical symptoms and diagnosis. In this study, we investigated the relationship between metabolic biomarkers associated with T2D and amyloid pathology including Aβ levels, from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and fasting plasma of healthy, pre-diabetic (PreD), and T2D vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus). Consistent with the human disease, T2D monkeys have increased plasma and CSF glucose levels as they transition from normoglycemia to PreD and diabetic states. Although plasma levels of acylcarnitines and amino acids remained largely unchanged, peripheral hyperglycemia correlated with decreased CSF acylcarnitines and CSF amino acids, including branched chain amino acid (BCAA) concentrations, suggesting profound changes in cerebral metabolism coincident with systemic glucose dysregulation. Moreover, CSF Aβ 40 and CSF Aβ 42 levels decreased in T2D monkeys, a phenomenon observed in the human course of AD which coincides with increased amyloid deposition within the brain. In agreement with previous studies in mice, CSF Aβ 40 and CSF Aβ 42 were highly correlated with CSF glucose levels, suggesting that glucose levels in the brain are associated with changes in Aβ metabolism. Interestingly, CSF Aβ 40 and CSF Aβ 42 levels were also highly correlated with plasma but not CSF lactate levels, suggesting that plasma lactate might serve as a potential biomarker of disease progression in AD. Moreover, CSF glucose and plasma lactate levels were correlated with CSF amino acid and acylcarnitine levels, demonstrating alterations in cerebral metabolism occurring with the onset of T2D. Together, these data suggest that peripheral metabolic changes associated with the development of T2D produce alterations in brain metabolism that lead to early changes in the amyloid cascade, similar to those observed in pre-symptomatic AD.

Sugar in mind: Untangling a sweet and sour relationship beyond type 2 diabetes

It is widely recognised that type 2 diabetes (T2D) represents a major disease burden but it is only recently that its role in neurodegeneration has attracted more attention. This research has shown that T2D is associated with impaired cerebral health, cognitive decline and dementia. However, the impact on the brain of progressive metabolic changes associated with the pre-clinical development of the disease is less clear. The aim of this review is to comprehensively summarise how the emergence of risk factors and co-morbid conditions linked to the development of T2D impact cerebral health. Particular attention is directed at characterising how normal but elevated blood glucose levels in individuals without T2D contribute to neurodegenerative processes, and how the main risk factors for T2D including obesity, physical activity and diet modulate these effects. Where available, evidence from the animal and human literature is contrasted, and sex differences in risk and outcomes are highlighted.

Low plasma adropin concentrations increase risks of weight gain and metabolic dysregulation in response to a high-sugar diet in male nonhuman primates

Mouse studies linking adropin, a peptide hormone encoded by the energy homeostasis-associated (ENHO) gene, to biological clocks and to glucose and lipid metabolism suggest a potential therapeutic target for managing diseases of metabolism. However, adropin's roles in human metabolism are unclear. In silico expression profiling in a nonhuman primate diurnal transcriptome atlas (GSE98965) revealed a dynamic and diurnal pattern of ENHO expression. ENHO expression is abundant in brain, including ventromedial and lateral hypothalamic nuclei regulating appetite and autonomic function. Lower ENHO expression is present in liver, lung, kidney, ileum, and some endocrine glands. Hepatic ENHO expression associates with genes involved in glucose and lipid metabolism. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering identified 426 genes co-regulated with ENHO in liver, ileum, kidney medulla, and lung. Gene Ontology analysis of this cluster revealed enrichment for epigenetic silencing by histone H3K27 trimethylation and biological processes related to neural function. Dietary intervention experiments with 59 adult male rhesus macaques indicated low plasma adropin concentrations were positively correlated with fasting glucose, plasma leptin, and apolipoprotein C3 (APOC3) concentrations. During consumption of a high-sugar (fructose) diet, which induced 10% weight gain, animals with low adropin had larger increases of plasma leptin and more severe hyperglycemia. Declining adropin concentrations were correlated with increases of plasma APOC3 and triglycerides. In summary, peripheral ENHO expression associates with pathways related to epigenetic and neural functions, and carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, suggesting co-regulation in nonhuman primates. Low circulating adropin predicts increased weight gain and metabolic dysregulation during consumption of a high-sugar diet.

Type II Diabetes Mellitus Accelerates Age-Dependent Aβ Pathology in Cynomolgus Monkey Brain

Accumulating evidence suggests that diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the strongest risk factors for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, it remains unclear how DM accelerates AD pathology in the brain. Cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) is one of the nonhuman primates used for biomedical research, and we can observe spontaneous formation of AD pathology, such as senile plaques (SPs) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), with the advance of aging. Furthermore, obesity is occasionally observed and frequently leads to development of type II DM (T2DM) in laboratory-housed cynomolgus monkeys. These findings suggest that cynomolgus monkey is a useful species to study the relationship between T2DM and AD pathology. In T2DM-affected monkey brains, SPs were observed in frontal and temporal lobe cortices almost 5 years earlier than healthy control monkeys. Moreover, age-related endocytic pathology, such as intraneuronal accumulation of enlarged endosomes, was exacerbated in T2DM-affected monkey brains. Since accumulating evidences suggest that endocytic dysfunction is involved in Aβ pathology, T2DM may aggravate age-related endocytic dysfunction, leading to the acceleration of Aβ pathology.

Modelling the endocrine pancreas in health and disease

Diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial disease affecting increasing numbers of patients worldwide. Progression to insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is characterized by the loss or dysfunction of pancreatic β-cells, but the pathomechanisms underlying β-cell failure in type 1 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus are still poorly defined. Regeneration of β-cell mass from residual islet cells or replacement by β-like cells derived from stem cells holds great promise to stop or reverse disease progression. However, the development of new treatment options is hampered by our limited understanding of human pancreas organogenesis due to the restricted access to primary tissues. Therefore, the challenge is to translate results obtained from preclinical model systems to humans, which requires comparative modelling of β-cell biology in health and disease. Here, we discuss diverse modelling systems across different species that provide spatial and temporal resolution of cellular and molecular mechanisms to understand the evolutionary conserved genotype-phenotype relationship and translate them to humans. In addition, we summarize the latest knowledge on organoids, stem cell differentiation platforms, primary micro-islets and pseudo-islets, bioengineering and microfluidic systems for studying human pancreas development and homeostasis ex vivo. These new modelling systems and platforms have opened novel avenues for exploring the developmental trajectory, physiology, biology and pathology of the human pancreas.

Plasma lipidomic signatures of spontaneous obese rhesus monkeys

Background

Obesity plays crucial roles in the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases such as hyperlipidemia, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and type 2 diabetes (T2D). The underlying mechanisms linking obesity to metabolic diseases are still less understandable.

Methods

Previously, we screened a group of spontaneously obese rhesus monkeys. Here, we performed a plasma lipidomic analysis of normal and obese monkeys using gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy (UPLC/MS).

Results

In total, 143 lipid species were identified, quantified, and classified into free fatty acids (FFA), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), and sphingomyelin (SM). Data analysis showed that the obese monkeys had increased levels of fatty acids palmitoleic acid (C16:1) and arachidonic acid (C20:4), FFA especially palmitic acid (C16:0), as well as certain PC species and SM species. Surprisingly, the plasma level of LPA-C16:0 was approximately four-fold greater in the obese monkeys. Conversely, the levels of most PE species were obviously reduced in the obese monkeys.

Conclusion

Collectively, our work suggests that lipids such as FFA C16:0 and 16:0-LPA may be potential candidates for the diagnosis and study of obesity-related diseases.

Engineering of a GLP-1 analogue peptide/anti-PCSK9 antibody fusion for type 2 diabetes treatment

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex and progressive disease requiring polypharmacy to manage hyperglycaemia and cardiovascular risk factors. However, most patients do not achieve combined treatment goals. To address this therapeutic gap, we have developed MEDI4166, a novel glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist peptide fused to a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) neutralising antibody that allows for glycaemic control and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering in a single molecule. The fusion has been engineered to deliver sustained peptide activity in vivo in combination with reduced potency, to manage GLP-1 driven adverse effects at high dose, and a favourable manufacturability profile. MEDI4166 showed robust and sustained LDL-C lowering in cynomolgus monkeys and exhibited the anticipated GLP-1 effects in T2D mouse models. We believe MEDI4166 is a novel molecule combining long acting agonist peptide and neutralising antibody activities to deliver a unique pharmacology profile for the management of T2D.

Differential mRNA expression of neuroinflammatory modulators in the spinal cord and thalamus of type 2 diabetic monkeys

BACKGROUND

Given that diabetes-associated complications are closely associated with neuroinflammation, it is imperative to study potential changes in neuroinflammatory modulators in the central nervous system of diabetic primates.

METHODS

The mRNA levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, toll-like receptors (TLRs), growth factors, and cannabinoid receptors were compared in the spinal dorsal horn (SDH) and thalamus of naturally occurring type 2 diabetic monkeys and an age-matched control group using reverse transcription and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

In the SDH of diabetic monkeys, mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines (i.e. interleukin [IL]-1β and tumor necrosis factor [TNF] α), TLR1, and TLR2 were increased, whereas mRNA levels of IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, were decreased. No changes were observed in the mRNA levels of growth factors and cannabinoid receptors. In line with the mRNA data, TNFα immunoreactivity was significantly increased in diabetic monkeys. Moreover, mRNA expression levels of IL-1β, TNFα, TLR1, and TLR2 in the SDH were positively correlated with plasma glucose concentrations in all monkeys.

CONCLUSIONS

Several ligands and receptors involved in neuroinflammation are simultaneously dysregulated in the spinal cord of diabetic monkeys. This primate disease model will facilitate the design of novel treatment approaches to ameliorate neuroinflammation-driven adverse effects in diabetic patients.

Comparative genome-wide survey of single nucleotide variation uncovers the genetic diversity and potential biomedical applications among six Macaca species

Macaca is of great importance in evolutionary and biomedical research. Aiming at elucidating genetic diversity patterns and potential biomedical applications of macaques, we characterized single nucleotide variations (SNVs) of six Macaca species based on the reference genome of Macaca mulatta. Using eight whole-genome sequences, representing the most comprehensive genomic SNV study in Macaca to date, we focused on discovery and comparison of nonsynonymous SNVs (nsSNVs) with bioinformatic tools. We observed that SNV distribution patterns were generally congruent among the eight individuals. Outlier tests of nsSNV distribution patterns detected 319 bins with significantly distinct genetic divergence among macaques, including differences in genes associated with taste transduction, homologous recombination, and fat and protein digestion. Genes with specific nsSNVs in various macaques were differentially enriched for metabolism pathways, such as glycolysis, protein digestion and absorption. On average, 24.95% and 11.67% specific nsSNVs were putatively deleterious according to PolyPhen2 and SIFT4G, respectively, among which the shared deleterious SNVs were located in 564–1981 genes. These genes displayed enrichment signals in the ‘obesity-related traits’ disease category for all surveyed macaques, confirming that they were suitable models for obesity related studies. Additional enriched disease categories were observed in some macaques, exhibiting promising potential for biomedical application. Positively selected genes identified by PAML in most tested Macaca species played roles in immune and nervous system, growth and development, and fat metabolism. We propose that metabolism and body size play important roles in the evolutionary adaptation of macaques.

Endocannabinoid hydrolase and cannabinoid receptor 1 are involved in the regulation of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis in type 2 diabetes

Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, as the key moderator in energy metabolism, plays an important role in diabetes. The endogenous cannabinoid system (eCBs) involves in neuronal functions, and simultaneously cannabinoid receptors are almost expressed in all regions of the hypothalamus according to a spate of reports. However, few data investigate the changes of eCBs and HPA axis in type 2 diabetes. In this study, five diabetes mellitus rhesus monkeys, five prediabetes rhesus monkeys and five healthy rhesus monkeys were observed. In the present study, we detected cell swelling and necrosis extensively in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and neurohypophysis in prediabetes and overt diabetes monkeys. The adrenocorticotropic hormone in the pituitary gland, adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor, and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the adrenal gland were all hyper-secreted and expressed from healthy to overt diabetes. Meanwhile, the cortisol concentration in the adrenal gland was increased along with the progress of diabetes. It could be concluded that hyperfunction of the HPA axis exists in the type 2 Diabetes pathogenesis. However, we also found a weakened expression and secretion of corticotrophin releasing hormone and glucocorticoids receptor in PVN. The expression of corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 1 in pituitary gland decreased in prediabetes monkeys, but increased in overt diabetes monkeys. The downregulation of cannabinoid receptor 1 and upregulation of monoglycerol lipase and fatty acid amide hydrolase in PVN was involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Collectively, we can conclude that changes in endocannabinoid hydrolase and cannabinoid receptor might indicate the effect of downregulation of eCBs. It can be assumed that hyper-function of the HPA axis from healthy to overt diabetes is due to the undermining inhibition of eCBs. However, the regulatory mechanism of eCBs targets on the HPA axis need to be further explored.

SILAC-based quantitative proteomic analysis of the livers of spontaneous obese and diabetic rhesus monkeys

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a severe metabolic disorder that affects more than 10% of the population worldwide. Obesity is a major cause of insulin resistance and contributes to the development of T2DM. Liver is an essential metabolic organ that plays crucial roles in the pathogenesis of obesity and diabetes. However, the underlying mechanisms of liver in the transition of obesity to diabetes are not fully understood. The nonhuman primate rhesus monkey is an appropriate animal for research of human diseases. Here, we first screened and selected three individuals of spontaneously diabetic rhesus monkeys. Interestingly, the diabetic monkeys were obese with a high body mass index at the beginning, but gradually lost their body weight during one year of observation. Furthermore, we performed stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture-based quantitative proteomics to identify proteins and signaling pathways with altered expression in the liver of obese and diabetic monkeys. In total, 3,509 proteins were identified and quantified, of which 185 proteins displayed an altered expression level. Gene ontology analysis revealed that the expression of proteins involved in fatty acids β-oxidation and galactose metabolism was increased in obese monkeys; while proteins involved in oxidative phosphorylation and branched chain amino acid (BCAA) degradation were upregulated in diabetic monkeys. In addition, we observed mild apoptosis in the liver of diabetic monkeys, suggesting liver injury at the late onset of diabetes. Taken together, our liver proteomics may reveal a distinct metabolic transition from fatty acids β-oxidation in obese monkey to BCAA degradation in diabetic monkeys.

Long-term blood glucose monitoring with implanted telemetry device in conscious and stress-free cynomolgus monkeys

AIMS

Continuous blood glucose monitoring, especially long-term and remote, in diabetic patients or research is very challenging. Nonhuman primate (NHP) is an excellent model for metabolic research, because NHPs can naturally develop Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) similarly to humans. This study was to investigate blood glucose changes in conscious, moving-free cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) during circadian, meal, stress and drug exposure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Blood glucose, body temperature and physical activities were continuously and simultaneously recorded by implanted HD-XG telemetry device for up to 10 weeks.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Blood glucose circadian changes in normoglycemic monkeys significantly differed from that in diabetic animals. Postprandial glucose increase was more obvious after afternoon feeding. Moving a monkey from its housing cage to monkey chair increased blood glucose by 30% in both normoglycemic and diabetic monkeys. Such increase in blood glucose declined to the pre-procedure level in 30 min in normoglycemic animals and >2 h in diabetic monkeys. Oral gavage procedure alone caused hyperglycemia in both normoglycemic and diabetic monkeys. Intravenous injection with the stress hormones, angiotensin II (2 μg/kg) or norepinephrine (0.4 μg/kg), also increased blood glucose level by 30%. The glucose levels measured by the telemetry system correlated significantly well with glucometer readings during glucose tolerance tests (ivGTT or oGTT), insulin tolerance test (ITT), graded glucose infusion (GGI) and clamp.

CONCLUSION

Our data demonstrate that the real-time telemetry method is reliable for monitoring blood glucose remotely and continuously in conscious, stress-free, and moving-free NHPs with the advantages highly valuable to diabetes research and drug discovery.

Comparison of Continuous Glucose Monitoring between Dexcom G4 Platinum and HD-XG Systems in Nonhuman Primates (Macaca Fascicularis)

Timely knowing glucose level helps diabetic patients to manage the disease, including decisions about food, physical activity and medication. This study compared two continuous glucose monitoring systems in conscious and moving-free nonhuman primates (NHPs, Macaca fascicularis). Each normoglycemic or diabetic monkey was implanted with one Dexcom G4 Platinum subcutaneously or one HD-XG glucose sensor arterially for glucose monitoring. The glucose levels measured by both telemetry devices significantly correlated with the glucometer readings. The data of oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT) showed that the glucose levels measured by either Dexcom G4 Platinum or HD-XG transmitter were very similar to glucometer readings. However, compared to HD-XG transmitter or glucometer, Dexcom G4 Platinum detected a decreased glucose peak of ivGTT with approximately 10 min delay due to interstitial glucose far behind blood glucose change. Our data showed the advantages of the telemetry systems are: (1) consecutive data collection (day and night); (2) no bleeding; (3) no anesthesia (moving freely); (4) recording natural response without physical restriction and stress; (5) less labor intensity during ivGTT and other tests; (6) quick outcomes without lab tests. This article summarized and compared the differences of the general characteristics of two continuous glucose monitoring systems in diabetic research.

Changes in microvascular density differentiate metabolic health outcomes in monkeys with prior radiation exposure and subsequent skeletal muscle ECM remodeling

Radiation exposure accelerates the onset of age-related diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neoplasia and, thus, lends insight into in vivo mechanisms common to these disorders. Fibrosis and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, which occur with aging and overnutrition and following irradiation, are risk factors for development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. We previously demonstrated an increased incidence of skeletal muscle insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus in monkeys that had been exposed to whole body irradiation 5-9 yr prior. We hypothesized that irradiation-induced fibrosis alters muscle architecture, predisposing irradiated animals to insulin resistance and overt diabetes. Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta, n = 7-8/group) grouped as nonirradiated age-matched controls (Non-Rad-CTL), irradiated nondiabetic monkeys (Rad-CTL), and irradiated monkeys that subsequently developed diabetes (Rad-DM) were compared. Prior radiation exposure resulted in persistent skeletal muscle ECM changes, including a relative overabundance of collagen IV and a trend toward increased transforming growth factor-β1. Preservation of microvascular markers differentiated the irradiated diabetic and nondiabetic groups. Microvascular density and plasma nitrate and heat shock protein 90 levels were lower in Rad-DM than Rad-CTL. These results are consistent with a protective effect of abundant microvasculature in maintaining glycemic control within radiation-induced fibrotic muscle.

Role of social interaction, exercise, diet, and age on developing and untreated diabetes in cynomolgus monkeys

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the most common form of diabetes that occurs in both human and nonhuman primates. Although spontaneously diabetic nonhuman primates are used extensively in diabetic related research and are a proven valuable tool for the study of the natural history of diabetes, little is known about the key factors that can cause this metabolic disorder and the preventative measures that could be employed to minimize the consequences of diabetes. Using a model of developing and untreated diabetes, this study describes the effects of housing arrangement (socially group- versus individually single-housed), exercise, diet, age, and sex on fasting plasma glucose, key lipids associated with diabetes, and bodyweight in two large cohorts of nonhuman primates. Key findings include exercise/housing arrangement's contribution to significant differences in bodyweight, levels of fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, and high- and low-density lipoproteins. Age also had profound effects on glucose, triglyceride and high-density lipoproteins, particularly in single-caged animals. Moreover, females had higher fasting glucose, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels than male counterparts within the same housing situations. These factors may be critical to identifying preventive measures that could eventually be used to minimize obesity and diabetes in humans.

Regulators of mitochondrial quality control differ in subcutaneous fat of metabolically healthy and unhealthy obese monkeys

OBJECTIVE

Obesity exists with and without accompanying cardiometabolic disease, termed metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) and healthy obesity (MHO), respectively. Underlying differences in the ability of subcutaneous (SQ) fat to respond to nutrient excess are emerging as a key pathway. This study aimed to document the first spontaneous animal model of MHO and MUO and differences in SQ adipose tissue.

METHODS

Vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops; N = 171) were screened for metabolic syndrome. A subset of MHO and MUO monkeys (n = 6/group) had SQ fat biopsies collected for histological evaluations and examination of key mitochondrial proteins.

RESULTS

Obesity was seen in 20% of monkeys, and within this population, 31% were healthy, which mirrors human prevalence estimates. MUO monkeys had more than 60% lower adiponectin concentrations despite similar fat cell size, uncoupling protein 3, and activated macrophage abundance. However, alternatively activated/anti-inflammatory macrophages were 70% lower. Deficiencies of 50% or more in mitochondrial quality control regulators and selected mitochondrial fission and fusion markers were observed in the SQ fat of MUO monkeys despite comparable mitochondrial content.

CONCLUSIONS

A novel and translatable spontaneously obese animal model of MHO and MUO, occurring independently of dietary factors, was characterized. Differences in mitochondrial quality and inflammatory cell populations of subcutaneous fat may underpin divergent metabolic health.

Blood cell respirometry is associated with skeletal and cardiac muscle bioenergetics: Implications for a minimally invasive biomarker of mitochondrial health

Blood based bioenergetic profiling strategies are emerging as potential reporters of systemic mitochondrial function; however, the extent to which these measures reflect the bioenergetic capacity of other tissues is not known. The premise of this work is that highly metabolically active tissues, such as skeletal and cardiac muscle, are susceptible to differences in systemic bioenergetic capacity. Therefore, we tested whether the respiratory capacity of blood cells, monocytes and platelets, are related to contemporaneous respirometric assessments of skeletal and cardiac muscle mitochondria. 18 female vervet/African green monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus) of varying age and metabolic status were examined for this study. Monocyte and platelet maximal capacity correlated with maximal oxidative phosphorylation capacity of permeabilized skeletal muscle (R=0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.38-0.97; R=0.51, 95%CI: 0.05-0.81; respectively), isolated skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiratory control ratio (RCR; R=0.70, 95%CI: 0.35-0.89; R=0.64, 95%CI: 0.23-0.98; respectively), and isolated cardiac muscle mitochondrial RCR (R=0.55, 95%CI: 0.22-0.86; R=0.58, 95%CI: 0.22-0.85; respectively). These results suggest that blood based bioenergetic profiling may be used to report on the bioenergetic capacity of muscle tissues. Blood cell respirometry represents an attractive alternative to tissue based assessments of mitochondrial function in human studies based on ease of access and the minimal participant burden required by these measures.

Altered expression of glial markers, chemokines, and opioid receptors in the spinal cord of type 2 diabetic monkeys

Neuroinflammation is a pathological condition that underlies diabetes and affects sensory processing. Given the high prevalence of pain in diabetic patients and crosstalk between chemokines and opioids, it is pivotal to know whether neuroinflammation-associated mediators are dysregulated in the central nervous system of diabetic primates. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether mRNA expression levels of glial markers, chemokines, and opioid receptors are altered in the spinal cord and thalamus of naturally occurring type 2 diabetic monkeys (n=7) compared with age-matched non-diabetic monkeys (n=6). By using RT-qPCR, we found that mRNA expression levels of both GFAP and IBA1 were up-regulated in the spinal dorsal horn (SDH) of diabetic monkeys compared with non-diabetic monkeys. Among all chemokines, expression levels of three chemokine ligand-receptor systems, i.e., CCL2-CCR2, CCL3-CCR1/5, and CCL4-CCR5, were up-regulated in the SDH of diabetic monkeys. Moreover, in the SDH, seven additional chemokine receptors, i.e., CCR4, CCR6, CCR8, CCR10, CXCR3, CXCR5, and CXCR6, were also up-regulated in diabetic monkeys. In contrast, expression levels of MOP, KOP, and DOP, but not NOP receptors, were down-regulated in the SDH of diabetic monkeys, and the thalamus had fewer changes in the glial markers, chemokines and opioids. These findings indicate that neuroinflammation, manifested as glial activation and simultaneous up-regulation of multiple chemokine ligands and receptors, seems to be permanent in type 2 diabetic monkeys. As chemokines and opioids are important pain modulators, this first-in-primate study provides a translational bridge for determining the functional efficacy of spinal drugs targeting their signaling cascades.

Age- and sex-related changes in fasting plasma glucose and lipoprotein in cynomolgus monkeys

Background

The age-related dysfunction of glucose and lipid metabolism has a long-standing relationship with cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disease. However, the effects of metabolic dysfunction on men and women are different. Reasons for these sex differences remains unclear. Cynomolgus monkeys have been used, in the past, for the study of human metabolic diseases due to their biologically proximity to humans. Nevertheless, few studies to date have focused on both age- and sex-related differences in glucose and lipid metabolism. The present study was designed to specifically address these questions by using a large cohort of cynomolgus monkeys (N = 1,399) including 433 males and 966 females with ages ranging 4 to 24 years old.

Methods

Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and lipid parameters including total cholesterol (T-Cho), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured. All these parameters were compared between ages and sexes.

Results

Among the entire cohort, age was strongly correlated with levels of FPG, TG and HDL. Consequently, sex-related analysis revealed that females had significantly higher average levels of FPG, T-Cho, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C than their male counterparts. In addition, more female (28.5 %) than male (16 %) monkeys qualified for impaired fasting plasma glucose (IFPG). In those IFPG animals, sex-related differences were also detected i.e. females had significantly increased levels of T-Cho, TG and LDL-C.

Conclusions

The result, for the first time, demonstrated the similarities and differences in detail between male and female cynomolgus monkeys in relationship to age-related glucose and lipoprotein metabolisms, and differences under various physiological conditions. The detailed glucose and lipoprotein profiling should provide additional and important insights for prediabetic conditions. Cynomolgus monkeys appear to be an excellent model for translational research of diabetes and for novel therapeutic strategies testing to overt diabetes.

Sertraline inhibits increases in body fat and carbohydrate dysregulation in adult female cynomolgus monkeys

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants are widely prescribed for depression and other disorders. SSRIs have become one of the most commonly used drugs in the United States, particularly by women. Acute effects on body composition and carbohydrate metabolism have been reported, but little is known regarding the effects of chronic SSRI use. We evaluated the effects of chronic administration of a commonly prescribed SSRI, sertraline HCl, on body weight and composition, fat distribution, carbohydrate metabolism, as well as activity, in adult female depressed and nondepressed cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis; n=42) using a placebo-controlled, longitudinal, randomized study design. Phenotypes were evaluated prior to and after 18 months of oral sertraline (20mg/kg) or placebo. Over the 18 month treatment period, the placebo group experienced increases in body weight, body fat (visceral and subcutaneous) fasting insulin concentrations, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance scores (HOMA-IR). Sertraline treatment prevented increases in body weight, fat, insulin, and HOMA-IR (all p<0.05), without significantly altering activity levels. Sertraline treatment altered adiponectin in an unusual way - reducing circulating adiponectin in depressed monkeys without affecting fat mass or body weight. Deleterious effects on adiponectin, a potentially insulin-sensitizing and atheroprotective protein, may result in adverse effects on cardiovascular health despite otherwise beneficial effects on body composition and carbohydrate metabolism.

Obesity and Aging in Humans and Nonhuman Primates: A Mini-Review

The prevalence of obesity in the US is increasing exponentially across gender, age and ethnic groups. Obesity and a long-term hypercaloric diet result in what appears to be accelerated aging, often leading to a multi-systemic deterioration known as the metabolic syndrome. Due to their physiological similarity to humans as well as comparable rates of spontaneous obesity and diabetes mellitus, nonhuman primates provide a useful translational model for the human condition. They allow for an in vivo study of disease progression, interaction of comorbidities, and novel interventions. However, defining obesity in aged humans and nonhuman primates is difficult as the physiological changes that occur with aging are not accounted for using our current systems (BMI - body mass index and BCS - body condition score). Nonetheless, nonhuman primate studies have greatly contributed to our understanding of obesity and metabolic dysfunction and should continue to play a large role in translational research. Here, methods for defining obesity and metabolic syndrome in humans and nonhuman primates are described along with the prevalence and effects of these conditions.

Cellular and Animal Studies: Insights into Pathophysiology and Therapy of PCOS

Basic science studies have advanced our understanding of the role of key enzymes in the steroidogenesis pathway and those that affect the pathophysiology of PCOS. Studies with ovarian theca cells taken from women with PCOS have demonstrated increased androgen production due to increased CYP17A1 and HSD3B2 enzyme activities. Furthermore, overexpression of DENND1A variant 2 in normal theca cells resulted in a PCOS phenotype with increased androgen production. Notably, cellular steroidogenesis models have facilitated the understanding of the mechanistic effects of pharmacotherapies, including insulin sensitizers (e.g., pioglitazone and metformin) used for the treatment of insulin resistance in PCOS, on androgen production. In addition, animal models of PCOS have provided a critical platform to study the effects of therapeutic agents in a manner closer to the physiological state. Indeed, recent breakthroughs have demonstrated that natural derivatives such as the dietary medium-chain fatty acid decanoic acid (DA) can restore estrous cyclicity and lower androgen levels in an animal model of PCOS, thus laying the platform for novel therapeutic developments in PCOS. This chapter reviews the current understanding on the pathways modulating androgen biosynthesis, and the cellular and animal models that form the basis for preclinical research in PCOS, and sets the stage for clinical research.

Reference values of hematology, biochemistry, and blood type in cynomolgus monkeys from cambodia origin

Cynomolgus monkeys as nonhuman primates are valuable animal models because they have a high level of human gene homology. There are many reference values for hematology and biochemistry of Cynomolgus monkeys that are needed for proper clinical diagnosis and biomedical research conduct. The body weight information and blood type are also key success factors in allogeneic or xenogeneic models. Moreover, the biological parameters could be different according to the origin of the Cynomolgus monkey. However, there are limited references provided, especially of Cambodia origin. In this study, we measured average body weight of 2,518 Cynomolgus monkeys and analyzed hematology and serum biochemistry using 119 males, and determined blood types in 642 monkeys with Cambodia origin. The average body weight of male Cynomolgus monkeys were 2.56±0.345 kg and female group was 2.43±0.330 kg at the age from 2 to 3 years. The male group showed relatively sharp increased average body weight from the 3 to 4 age period compared to the female group. In hematology and biochemistry, it was found that most of the data was similar when compared to other references even though some results showed differences. The ABO blood type result showed that type A, B, AB, and O was approximately 15.6, 33.3, 44.2, and 6.9%, respectively. The main blood type in this facility was B and AB. These biological background references of Cambodia origin could be used to provide important information to researchers who are using them in their biomedical research.

Experimental diabetes induced by alloxan and streptozotocin: The current state of the art

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder with a high prevalence worldwide. Animal models of diabetes represent an important tool in diabetes investigation that helps us to avoid unnecessary and ethically challenging studies in human subjects, as well as to obtain a comprehensive scientific viewpoint of this disease. Although there are several methods through which diabetes can be induced, chemical methods of alloxan- and streptozotocin-induced diabetes represent the most important and highly preferable experimental models for this pathological condition. Therefore, the aim of this article was to review the current knowledge related to quoted models of diabetes, including to this point available information about mechanism of action, particular time- and dose-dependent protocols, frequent problems, as well as major limitations linked to laboratory application of alloxan and sterptozotocin in inducing diabetes. Given that diabetes is known to be closely associated with serious health consequences it is of fundamental importance that current animal models for induction of diabetes should be continuously upgraded in order to improve overall prevention, diagnosis and treatment of this pathological condition.

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in nonhuman primate model of dysmetabolism and diabetes

BACKGROUND

Diabetes is one of the major risk factors for cardiomyopathy and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (EF) and highly associated with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in human. This study aimed 1) to noninvasively assess cardiac function using echocardiography; 2) to test the hypothesis that like diabetic human, cardiac function may also be compromised; in spontaneously developed obese, dysmetabolic and diabetic nonhuman primates (NHPs).

METHODS

Cardiovascular functions were measured by noninvasive echocardiography in 28 control, 20 dysmetabolic/pre-diabetic and 41 diabetic cynomolgus monkeys based on fasting blood glucose and other metabolic status.

RESULTS

The LV end-systolic volume (ESV) was higher while end-diastolic volume (EDV, 12 ± 5.7 mL) and EF (63 ± 12.8 %) significantly lower in the diabetic compared to control (14 ± 7 mL and 68 ± 9.8 %) group, respectively. The E/A ratio of LV trans-mitral peak flow rate during early (E) over late (A) diastole was significantly lower in the diabetic (1.19 ± 0.45) than control (1.44 ± 0.48) group. E-wave deceleration time (E DT) was prolonged in the diabetic (89 ± 41 ms) compared to control (78 ± 26 ms) group. Left atrial (LA) maximal dimension (LADmax) was significantly greater in the diabetic (1.3 ± 0.17 cm) than control (1.1 ± 0.16 cm) group. Biochemical tests showed that total cholesterol and LDL were significant higher in the diabetic (167 ± 63 and 69 ± 37 mg/dL) than both pre-diabetic (113 ± 37 and 41 ± 23 mg/dL) and control (120 ± 28 and 41 ± 17 mg/dL) groups, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated that LV systolic (reduced EF) and diastolic (abnormal E/A ratio) dysfunctions are significantly correlated with aging and hyperglycemia. Histopathology examination of the necropsy heart revealed inflammatory infiltration, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and fragmentation, indicating the myocardial ischemia and remodeling which is consistent with the LV dysfunction phenotype.

CONCLUSIONS

Using noninvasive echocardiography, the present study demonstrated for the first time that dysmetabolic and diabetic NHPs are associated with LV systolic (increased ESV, decreased EF, etc.) and diastolic (decreased EDV and E/A ratio, prolonged E DT, etc.) dysfunctions, accompanied by LA hypertrophic remodeling (increased LADmax), the phenotypes similarly to those found in diabetic patients. Thus, spontaneously developed dysmetabolic and diabetic NHPs is a highly translatable model to human diseases not only in the pathogenic mechanisms but also can be used for testing novel therapies for cardiometabolic disorders.