Age-Related Changes in the Clustering of Blood Populations in Cynomolgus Monkeys Depend on Sex and Immune Status.

Non-anthropoid primates cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis), also known as crab-eating macaques, are increasingly used in biomedical and preclinical studies due to their evolutionary proximity to humans, sharing similar diets, infectious and senile diseases. Age-related changes and sexual dimorphism of the immune system of C. monkeys have not been sufficiently characterized in literature, though age and sex differences affect the course of diseases and sensitivity to medications. Aging in C. monkeys is accompanied by an increase in CD3+CD4+CD8+ (DP-T) cells, plasma B-cells, and a decrease in platelets. Erythromyeloid bias has also been noticed in older animals. There was an increase in eosinophils, haematocrit (HCT) and haemoglobin concentration (HGB). Senile decline in the function of the immune system had sex differences. An increase in the number of monocytes, cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTL) and a decrease in the T-helper population were more pronounced in older females. A significant reduction in the number of B-cells and activated T-cells was detected in males only. A moderate correlation with the regression model of aging was established for DP-T, HCT and HGB. The reduction in the B cells count in males and the increase in CTL level in females are moderately correlated with age. Other blood cell populations did not show significant correlations in the regression models due to their high sample variability. The novel cell population CD3-CD20loCD16/CD56+, presumably NK-cells subset, was revealed. This cell population demonstrated an increase trend with age in both sexes. Population-statistical age norms for different sexes for young and very old macaques were established. The blood population clusters associated with sex and immune status in older animals were also identified.

Disease modifying treatment of spinal cord injury with directly reprogrammed neural precursor cells in non-human primates.

BACKGROUND: The development of regenerative therapy for human spinal cord injury (SCI) is dramatically restricted by two main challenges: the need for a safe source of functionally active and reproducible neural stem cells and the need of adequate animal models for preclinical testing. Direct reprogramming of somatic cells into neuronal and glial precursors might be a promising solution to the first challenge. The use of non-human primates for preclinical studies exploring new treatment paradigms in SCI results in data with more translational relevance to human SCI. AIM: To investigate the safety and efficacy of intraspinal transplantation of directly reprogrammed neural precursor cells (drNPCs). METHODS: Seven non-human primates with verified complete thoracic SCI were divided into two groups: drNPC group (n = 4) was subjected to intraspinal transplantation of 5 million drNPCs rostral and caudal to the lesion site 2 wk post injury, and lesion control (n = 3) was injected identically with the equivalent volume of vehicle. RESULTS: Follow-up for 12 wk revealed that animals in the drNPC group demonstrated a significant recovery of the paralyzed hindlimb as well as recovery of somatosensory evoked potential and motor evoked potential of injured pathways. Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging data confirmed the intraspinal transplantation of drNPCs did not adversely affect the morphology of the central nervous system or cerebrospinal fluid circulation. Subsequent immunohistochemical analysis showed that drNPCs maintained SOX2 expression characteristic of multipotency in the transplanted spinal cord for at least 12 wk, migrating to areas of axon growth cones. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrated that drNPC transplantation was safe and contributed to improvement of spinal cord function after acute SCI, based on neurological status assessment and neurophysiological recovery within 12 wk after transplantation. The functional improvement described was not associated with neuronal differentiation of the allogeneic drNPCs. Instead, directed drNPCs migration to the areas of active growth cone formation may provide exosome and paracrine trophic support, thereby further supporting the regeneration processes.

Comparative study of blood pressure and echocardiographic values of male cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis).

BACKGROUND: Primates represent a unique object for biomedical research, in particular in the field of physiology and pathology of the cardiovascular system. Echocardiography is the most important non-invasive method for the intravital study of the heart structure and function, intracardiac and systemic haemodynamics. The available data on reference values of echocardiographic parameters in primates are limited. METHODS: We determined and described 29 structural and functional parameters in echocardiographic examination using B-mode (two-dimensional scanning), M-mode (one-dimensional scanning) and in various Doppler modes together with blood pressure in 17 male cynomolgus macaques with an average age of 5.7 ± 0.6 years. We compared available literature data on reference values of echocardiography in this species. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Echocardiographic values in cynomolgus macaques depend on age, sex composition and the anaesthesia method. There is lack of presentation in the published studies of complete list of parameters that can be obtained by echocardiographic examination.