Endothelial reconstitution by CD34+ progenitors derived from baboon embryonic stem cells

Nonhuman Primates and Translational Research-Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Human epidemiological studies provide challenges for understanding mechanisms that regulate initiation and progression of CVD due to variation in lifestyle, diet, and other environmental factors. Studies describing metabolic and physiologic aspects of CVD, and those investigating genetic and epigenetic mechanisms influencing CVD initiation and progression, have been conducted in multiple Old World nonhuman primate (NHP) species. Major advantages of NHPs as models for understanding CVD are their genetic, metabolic, and physiologic similarities with humans, and the ability to control diet, environment, and breeding. These NHP species are also genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous, providing opportunities to study gene by environment interactions that are not feasible in inbred animal models. Each Old World NHP species included in this review brings unique strengths as models to better understand human CVD. All develop CVD without genetic manipulation providing multiple models to discover genetic variants that influence CVD risk. In addition, as each of these NHP species age, their age-related comorbidities such as dyslipidemia and diabetes are accelerated proportionally 3 to 4 times faster than in humans.In this review, we discuss current CVD-related research in NHPs focusing on selected aspects of CVD for which nonprimate model organism studies have left gaps in our understanding of human disease. We include studies on current knowledge of genetics, epigenetics, calorie restriction, maternal calorie restriction and offspring health, maternal obesity and offspring health, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and steatosis, Chagas disease, microbiome, stem cells, and prevention of CVD.

Nonhuman primate models in translational regenerative medicine

Humans and nonhuman primates (NHPs) are similar in size, behavior, physiology, biochemistry, structure and function of organs, and complexity of the immune system. Research on NHPs generates complementary data that bridge translational research from small animal models to humans. NHP models of human disease offer unique opportunities to develop stem cell-based therapeutic interventions that directly address relevant and challenging translational aspects of cell transplantation therapy. These include the use of autologous induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cellular products, issues related to the immune response in autologous and allogeneic setting, pros and cons of delivery techniques in a clinical setting, as well as the safety and efficacy of candidate cell lines. The NHP model allows the assessment of complex physiological, biochemical, behavioral, and imaging end points, with direct relevance to human conditions. At the same time, the value of using primates in scientific research must be carefully evaluated and timed due to expense and the necessity for specialized equipment and highly trained personnel. Often it is more efficient and useful to perform initial proof-of-concept studies for new therapeutics in rodents and/or other species before the pivotal studies in NHPs that may eventually lead to first-in-human trials. In this report, we present how the Southwest National Primate Research Center, one of seven NIH-funded National Primate Research Centers, may help the global community in translating promising technologies to the clinical arena.

Experimental approaches to derive CD34+ progenitors from human and nonhuman primate embryonic stem cells

Traditionally, CD34 positive cells are predominantly found in the umbilical cord and bone marrow, thus are considered as hematopoietic progenitors. Increasing evidence has suggested that the CD34+ cells represent a distinct subset of cells with enhanced progenitor activity; CD34 is a general marker of progenitor cells in a variety of cell types. Because the CD34 protein shows expression early on in hematopoietic and vascular-associated tissues, CD34+ cells have enormous potential as cellular agents for research and for clinical cell transplantation. Directed differentiation of embryonic stem cells will give rise to an inexhaustible supply of CD34+ cells, creating an exciting approach for biomedical research and for regenerative medicine. Here, we review the main methods that have been published for the derivation of CD34+ cells from embryonic stem cells; specifically those approaches the human and nonhuman primate stem cells. We summarize current status of this field, compare the methods used, and evaluate the issues in translating the bench science to bedside therapy.