Spinal cord injury results in the loss of sensory,motor,and autonomic functions,which almost always produces permanent physical disability.Thus,in the search for more effective treatments than those already applied fo...Spinal cord injury results in the loss of sensory,motor,and autonomic functions,which almost always produces permanent physical disability.Thus,in the search for more effective treatments than those already applied for years,which are not entirely efficient,researches have been able to demonstrate the potential of biological strategies using biomaterials to tissue manufacturing through bioengineering and stem cell therapy as a neuroregenerative approach,seeking to promote neuronal recovery after spinal cord injury.Each of these strategies has been developed and meticulously evaluated in several animal models with the aim of analyzing the potential of interventions for neuronal repair and,consequently,boosting functional recovery.Although the majority of experimental research has been conducted in rodents,there is increasing recognition of the importance,and need,of evaluating the safety and efficacy of these interventions in non-human primates before moving to clinical trials involving therapies potentially promising in humans.This article is a literature review from databases(PubMed,Science Direct,Elsevier,Scielo,Redalyc,Cochrane,and NCBI)from 10 years ago to date,using keywords(spinal cord injury,cell therapy,non-human primates,humans,and bioengineering in spinal cord injury).From 110 retrieved articles,after two selection rounds based on inclusion and exclusion criteria,21 articles were analyzed.Thus,this review arises from the need to recognize the experimental therapeutic advances applied in non-human primates and even humans,aimed at deepening these strategies and identifying the advantages and influence of the results on extrapolation for clinical applicability in humans.展开更多
Selective regulation of gene expression across distinct brain regions is crucial for establishing and maintaining subdivision identities.DNA methylation,a key regulator of gene transcription,modulates transcriptional ...Selective regulation of gene expression across distinct brain regions is crucial for establishing and maintaining subdivision identities.DNA methylation,a key regulator of gene transcription,modulates transcriptional activity through the conversion of 5-methylcytosine(5mC)to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine(5hmC).While DNA methylation is hypothesized to play an essential role in shaping brain identity by influencing gene expression patterns,its direct contribution,especially in primates,remains largely unexplored.This study examined DNA methylation landscapes and transcriptional profiles across four brain regions,including the cortex,cerebellum,striatum,and hippocampus,using samples from 12 rhesus monkeys.The cerebellum exhibited distinct epigenetic and transcriptional signatures,with differentially methylated regions(DMRs)significantly enriched in metabolic pathways.Notably,genes harboring clustered differentially hydroxymethylated regions(DhMRs)overlapped with those implicated in schizophrenia.Moreover,5mC located1 kb upstream of the ATG start codon was correlated with gene expression and exhibited region-specific associations with 5hmC.These findings provide insights into the coordinated regulation of cerebellum-specific 5mC and5hmC,highlighting their potential roles in defining cerebellar identity and contributing to neuropsychiatric diseases.展开更多
Dear Editor,Traumatic optic neuropathy(TON)is a severe vision-threatening condition,with an incidence rate ranging from 0.7% to 2.5%[1].The limited regenerative capacity of the optic nerve and the challenges of nerve ...Dear Editor,Traumatic optic neuropathy(TON)is a severe vision-threatening condition,with an incidence rate ranging from 0.7% to 2.5%[1].The limited regenerative capacity of the optic nerve and the challenges of nerve transplantation result in substantial and irreversible visual loss in patients with TON.展开更多
Demyelination and remyelination play key roles in spinal cord injury(SCI),affecting the recovery of motor and sensory functions.Research in rodent models is extensive,but the study of these processes in non-human prim...Demyelination and remyelination play key roles in spinal cord injury(SCI),affecting the recovery of motor and sensory functions.Research in rodent models is extensive,but the study of these processes in non-human primates is limited.Therefore,our goal was to thoroughly study the histological features of demyelination and remyelination after contusion injury of the cervical spinal cord in Macaca fascicularis.In a previous study,we created an SCI model in M.fascicularis by controlling the contusion displacement.We used Eriochrome Cyanine staining,immunohistochemical analysis,and toluidine blue staining to evaluate demyelination and remyelination.The results showed demyelination ipsilateral to the injury epicenter both rostrally and caudally,the former mainly impacting sensory pathways,while the latter primarily affected motor pathways.Toluidine blue staining showed myelin loss and axonal distension at the injury site.Schwann cell-derived myelin sheaths were only found at the center,while thinner myelin sheaths from oligodendrocytes were seen at the center and surrounding areas.Our study showed that long-lasting demyelination occurs in the spinal cord of M.fascicularis after SCI,with oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells playing a significant role in myelin sheath formation at the injury site.展开更多
Spinal cord injury results in significant sensorimotor deficits,currently,there is no curative treatment for the symptoms induced by spinal cord injury.Basic and pre-clinical research on spinal cord injury relies on t...Spinal cord injury results in significant sensorimotor deficits,currently,there is no curative treatment for the symptoms induced by spinal cord injury.Basic and pre-clinical research on spinal cord injury relies on the development and characterization of appropriate animal models.These models should replicate the symptoms observed in human,allowing for the exploration of functional deficits and investigation into various aspects of physiopathology of spinal cord injury.Non-human primates,due to their close phylogenetic association with humans,share more neuroanatomical,genetic,and physiological similarities with humans than rodents.Therefore,the responses to spinal cord injury in nonhuman primates most likely resemble the responses to traumatism in humans.In this review,we will discuss nonhuman primate models of spinal cord injury,focusing on in vivo assessments,including behavioral tests,magnetic resonance imaging,and electrical activity recordings,as well as ex vivo histological analyses.Additionally,we will present therapeutic strategies developed in non-human primates and discuss the unique specificities of non-human primate models of spinal cord injury.展开更多
Optical-neural stimulation,which encompasses cutting-edge techniques such as optogenetics and infrared neurostimulation,employs distinct mechanisms to modulate brain function and behavior.These advanced neuromodulatio...Optical-neural stimulation,which encompasses cutting-edge techniques such as optogenetics and infrared neurostimulation,employs distinct mechanisms to modulate brain function and behavior.These advanced neuromodulation techniques offer accurate manipulation of targeted areas,even selectively modulating specific neurons,in the brain.This makes it possible to investigate the cause-and-effect connections between neural activity and behavior,allowing for a better comprehension of the intricate brain dynamics towards complex environments.Non-human primates serve as an essential animal model for investigating these complex functions in brain research,bridging the gap between the basic research and clinical applications.One of the earliest optical studies utilizing optogenetic neuromodulation in monkeys was conducted in 2009.Since then,the optical-neural stimulations have been effectively applied in non-human primates.This review summarises recent research that employed optogenetics or infrared neurostimulation techniques to regulate brain function and behavior in non-human primates.The current state of optical-neural stimulations discussed here demonstrates their efficacy in advancing the understanding of brain systems.Nevertheless,there are still challenges that need to be addressed before they can fully achieve their potential.展开更多
Non-human primates （NHPs） are phylogenetically close to humans, with many similarities in terms of physiology, anatomy, immunology, as well as neurology, all of which make them excellent experimental models for biom...Non-human primates （NHPs） are phylogenetically close to humans, with many similarities in terms of physiology, anatomy, immunology, as well as neurology, all of which make them excellent experimental models for biomedical research. Compared with developed countries in America and Europe, China has relatively rich primate resources and has continually aimed to develop NHPs resources. Currently, China is a leading producer and a major supplier of NHPs on the international market. However, there are some deficiencies in feeding and management that have hampered China＇s growth in NHP research and materials. Nonetheless, China has recently established a number of primate animal models for human diseases and achieved marked scientific progress on infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, endocrine diseases, reproductive diseases, neurological diseases, and ophthalmic diseases, etc. Advances in these fields via NHP models will undoubtedly further promote the development of China＇s life sciences and pharmaceutical industry, and enhance China＇s position as a leader in NHP research. This review covers the current status of NHPs in China and other areas, highlighting the latest developments in disease models using NHPs, as well as outlining basic problems and proposing effective to better utilize NHP resources and further foster NHP research in China.展开更多
In order to understand the fundamental questions of the biology of life and to duplicate the pathogenesis of human diseases, animal models using different experimental animals, such as rodents, Drosophila, Caenorhabdi...In order to understand the fundamental questions of the biology of life and to duplicate the pathogenesis of human diseases, animal models using different experimental animals, such as rodents, Drosophila, Caenorhabditis elegans, and zebrafish, have been established and used widely for many decades. The controllability of environmental conditions, the high reproducibility, the ease of scale and the comparability of results, as well as the ability to use different standards for ethical protocols, all make an animal model the ideal tool for carrying out studies on human diseases and the development of novel pharmaceuticals and new therapies （Xue et al., 2014）. An ideal animal model should reflect the complete spectra of a specific human disease, with similar features on the following key issues： （1） genetic basis; （2） anatomy and physiology; （3） pathological response（s） and underlying mechanism（s）; （4） phenotypic endpoints as clinical studies; （5） responsiveness to known drugs with clinical efficacy; and （6） prediction of clinical efficacy （McGonigle and Ruggeri, 2014）.展开更多
The central nervous system is known to have limited regenerative capacity.Not only does this halt the human body’s reparative processes after central nervous system lesions,but it also impedes the establishment of ef...The central nervous system is known to have limited regenerative capacity.Not only does this halt the human body’s reparative processes after central nervous system lesions,but it also impedes the establishment of effective and safe therapeutic options for such patients.Despite the high prevalence of stroke and spinal cord injury in the general population,these conditions remain incurable and place a heavy burden on patients’families and on society more broadly.Neuroregeneration and neural engineering are diverse biomedical fields that attempt reparative treatments,utilizing stem cells-based strategies,biologically active molecules,nanotechnology,exosomes and highly tunable biodegradable systems(e.g.,certain hydrogels).Although there are studies demonstrating promising preclinical results,safe clinical translation has not yet been accomplished.A key gap in clinical translation is the absence of an ideal animal or ex vivo model that can perfectly simulate the human microenvironment,and also correspond to all the complex pathophysiological and neuroanatomical factors that affect functional outcomes in humans after central nervous system injury.Such an ideal model does not currently exist,but it seems that the nonhuman primate model is uniquely qualified for this role,given its close resemblance to humans.This review considers some regenerative therapies for central nervous system repair that hold promise for future clinical translation.In addition,it attempts to uncover some of the main reasons why clinical translation might fail without the implementation of nonhuman primate models in the research pipeline.展开更多
In the past three years, RNA-guided Cas9 nuclease from the microbial clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats （CRISPR） adaptive immune system has been used to facilitate efficient genome editing in ...In the past three years, RNA-guided Cas9 nuclease from the microbial clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats （CRISPR） adaptive immune system has been used to facilitate efficient genome editing in many model and non-model animals. However, its application in nonhuman primates is still at the early stage, though in view of the similarities in anatomy, physiology, behavior and genetics, closely related nonhuman primates serve as optimal models for human biology and disease studies. In this review, we summarize the current proceedings of gene editing using CRISPR/Cas9 in nonhuman primates.展开更多
Formyl peptide receptors (FPRs) were observed to expand in rodents and were recently suggested as candidate vomeronasal chemo-sensory receptors. Since vomeronasal chemosensory receptors usually underwent positive sele...Formyl peptide receptors (FPRs) were observed to expand in rodents and were recently suggested as candidate vomeronasal chemo-sensory receptors. Since vomeronasal chemosensory receptors usually underwent positive selection and evolved concordantly with the vomeronasal organ (VNO) morphology, we surveyed FPRs in primates in which VNO morphology is greatly diverse and thus it would provide us a clearer view of VNO-FPRs evolution. By screening available primate genome sequences, we obtained the FPR repertoires in representative primate species. As a result, we did not find FPR family size expansion in primates. Further analyses showed no evolution-ary force variance between primates with or without VNO structure, which indicated that there was no functional divergence among pri-mates FPRs. Our results suggest that primates lack the VNO-specific FPRs and the FPR expansion is not a common phenomenon in mammals outside rodent lineage, regardless of VNO complexity.展开更多
Strategies to fill the huge gap in supply versus demand of human organs include bioartificial organs, growing humanized organs in animals, cell therapy, and implantable bioengineered constructs. Reproducing the comple...Strategies to fill the huge gap in supply versus demand of human organs include bioartificial organs, growing humanized organs in animals, cell therapy, and implantable bioengineered constructs. Reproducing the complex relations between different cell types, generation of adequate vasculature, and immunological complications are road blocks in generation of bioengineered organs, while immunological complications limit the use of humanized organs produced in animals. Recent developments in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) biology offer a possibility of generating human, patient-specific organs in non-human primates (NHP) using patient-derived iPSC and NHP-derived iPSC lacking the critical developmental genes for the organ of interest complementing a NHP tetraploid embryo. The organ derived in this way will have the same human leukocyte antigen (HLA) profile as the patient. This approach can be curative in genetic disorders as this offers the possibility of gene manipulation and correction of the patient's genome at the iPSC stage before tetraploid complementation. The process of generation of patient-specific organs such as the liver in this way has the great advantage of making use of the natural signaling cascades in the natural milieu probably resulting in organs of great quality for transplantation. However, the inexorable scientific developments in this direction involve several social issues and hence we need to educate and prepare society in advance to accept the revolutionary consequences, good, bad and ugly.展开更多
Viruses can be transmitted from animals to humans(and vice versa)and across animal species.As such,host-virus interactions and transmission have attracted considerable attention.Non-human primates(NHPs),our closest ev...Viruses can be transmitted from animals to humans(and vice versa)and across animal species.As such,host-virus interactions and transmission have attracted considerable attention.Non-human primates(NHPs),our closest evolutionary relatives,are susceptible to human viruses and certain pathogens are known to circulate between humans and NHPs.Here,we generated global statistics on virus infections in NHPs(VI-NHPs)based on a literature search and public data mining.In total,140 NHP species from 12 families are reported to be infected by 186 DNA and RNA virus species,68.8%of which are also found in humans,indicating high potential for crossing species boundaries.展开更多
Since the birth of molecular evolutionary analysis, primates have been a central focus of study and mitochondrial DNA is well suited to these endeavors because of its unique features. Surprisingly, to date no comprehe...Since the birth of molecular evolutionary analysis, primates have been a central focus of study and mitochondrial DNA is well suited to these endeavors because of its unique features. Surprisingly, to date no comprehensive evaluation of the nucleotide substitution patterns has been conducted on the mitochondrial genome of primates. Here, we analyzed the evolutionary patterns and evaluated selection and recombination in the mitochondrial genomes of 44 Primates species downloaded from Genl3ank. The results revealed that a strong rate heterogeneity occurred among sites and genes in all comparisons. Likewise, an obvious decline in primate nucleotide diversity was noted in the subunit rRNAs and tRNAs as compared to the protein-coding genes. Within 13 protein-coding genes, the pattern of nonsynonymous divergence was similar to that of overall nucleotide divergence, while synonymous changes differed only for individual genes, indicating that the rate heterogeneity may result from the rate of change at nonsynonymous sites. Codon usage analysis revealed that there was intermediate codon usage bias in primate protein-coding genes, and supported the idea that GC mutation pressure might determine codon usage and that positive selection is not the driving force for the codon usage bias. Neutrality tests using site-specific positive selection from a Bayesian framework indicated no sites were under positive selection for any gene, consistent with near neutrality. Recombination tests based on the pairwise homoplasy test statistic supported complete linkage even for much older divergent primate species. Thus, with the exception of rate heterogeneity among mitochondrial genes, evaluating the validity assumed complete linkage and selective neutrality in primates prior to phylogenetic or phylogeographic analysis seems unnecessary.展开更多
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 cell...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.展开更多
Transplantation therapy for diabetes in humans is limited by the low availability of human donor whole pancreas or islets. Outcomes are complicated by immunosuppressive drug toxicity. Xenotransplantation is a strategy...Transplantation therapy for diabetes in humans is limited by the low availability of human donor whole pancreas or islets. Outcomes are complicated by immunosuppressive drug toxicity. Xenotransplantation is a strategy to overcome supply problems. Implantation of tissue obtained early during embryogenesis is a way to reduce transplant immunogenicity. Pig insulin is biologically active in humans. In that regard the pig is an appropriate xenogeneic organ donor. Insulin-producing cells originating from embryonic pig pancreas obtained very early following pancreatic primordium formation [embryonic day 28 (E28)] engraft long-term in rhesus macaques. Endocrine cells originating from embryonic pig pancreas transplanted in host mesentery migrate to mesenteric lymph nodes, engraft, differentiate and improve glucose tolerance in rhesus macaques without the need for immune suppression. Transplantation of embryonic pig pancreas is a novel approach towards beta cell replacement therapy that could be applicable to humans.展开更多
Elucidating the closest living relatives of extant primates is essential for fully understanding important biological processes related to the genomic and phenotypic evolution of primates, especially of humans. Howeve...Elucidating the closest living relatives of extant primates is essential for fully understanding important biological processes related to the genomic and phenotypic evolution of primates, especially of humans. However, the phylogenetic placement of these primate relatives remains controversial, with three primary hypotheses currently espoused based on morphological and molecular evidence. In the present study, we used two algorithms to analyze differently partitioned genomic datasets consisting of 45.4 Mb of conserved non-coding elements and 393 kb of concatenated coding sequences to test these hypotheses. We assessed different genomic histories and compared with other molecular studies found solid support for colugos being the closest living relatives of primates. Our phylogeny showed Cercopithecinae to have low levels of nucleotide divergence, especially for Papionini, and gibbons to have a high rate of divergence. The MCMCtree comprehensively updated divergence dates of early evolution of Primatomorpha and Primates.展开更多
Since the birth of molecular evolutionary analysis,primates have been a central focus of study and mitochondrial DNA is well suited to these endeavors because of its unique features.Surprisingly,to date no comprehensi...Since the birth of molecular evolutionary analysis,primates have been a central focus of study and mitochondrial DNA is well suited to these endeavors because of its unique features.Surprisingly,to date no comprehensive evaluation of the nucleotide substitution patterns has been conducted on the mitochondrial genome of primates.Here,we analyzed the evolutionary patterns and evaluated selection and recombination in the mitochondrial genomes of 44 Primates species downloaded from GenBank.The results revealed that a strong rate heterogeneity occurred among sites and genes in all comparisons.Likewise,an obvious decline in primate nucleotide diversity was noted in the subunit rRNAs and tRNAs as compared to the protein-coding genes.Within 13 protein-coding genes,the pattern of nonsynonymous divergence was similar to that of overall nucleotide divergence,while synonymous changes differed only for individual genes,indicating that the rate heterogeneity may result from the rate of change at nonsynonymous sites.Codon usage analysis revealed that there was intermediate codon usage bias in primate protein-coding genes,and supported the idea that GC mutation pressure might determine codon usage and that positive selection is not the driving force for the codon usage bias.Neutrality tests using site-specific positive selection from a Bayesian framework indicated no sites were under positive selection for any gene,consistent with near neutrality.Recombination tests based on the pairwise homoplasy test statistic supported complete linkage even for much older divergent primate species.Thus,with the exception of rate heterogeneity among mitochondrial genes,evaluating the validity assumed complete linkage and selective neutrality in primates prior to phylogenetic or phylogeographic analysis seems unnecessary.展开更多
Strabismus and amblyopia are common ophthalmologic developmental diseases caused by abnormal visual experiences. However, the underlying pathogenesis and visual defects are still not fully understood. Most studies hav...Strabismus and amblyopia are common ophthalmologic developmental diseases caused by abnormal visual experiences. However, the underlying pathogenesis and visual defects are still not fully understood. Most studies have used experimental interference to establish diseaseassociated animal models, while ignoring the natural pathophysiological mechanisms. This study was designed to investigate whether natural strabismus and amblyopia are associated with abnormal neurological defects. We screened one natural strabismic monkey(Macaca fascicularis) and one natural amblyopic monkey from hundreds of monkeys, and retrospectively analyzed one human strabismus case. Neuroimaging, behavioral,neurophysiological, neurostructural, and genovariation features were systematically evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), behavioral tasks, flash visual evoked potentials(FVEP),electroretinogram(ERG), optical coherence tomography(OCT), and whole-genome sequencing(WGS), respectively. Results showed that the strabismic patient and natural strabismic and amblyopic monkeys exhibited similar abnormal asymmetries in brain structure, i.e., ipsilateral impaired right hemisphere. Visual behavior, visual function, retinal structure, and fundus of the monkeys were impaired. Aberrant asymmetry in binocular visual function and structure between the strabismic and amblyopic monkeys was closely related, with greater impairment of the left visual pathway.Several similar known mutant genes for strabismus and amblyopia were also identified. In conclusion,natural strabismus and amblyopia are accompanied by abnormal asymmetries of the visual system,especially visual neurophysiological and neurostructural defects. Our results suggest that future therapeutic and mechanistic studies should consider defects and asymmetries throughout the entire visual system.展开更多
Twenty five monkeys were used in this experiment. They were divided into 5 groups with 5 animals as the replicates in each group and were adapted for two weeks to the environment before the data were collected. The an...Twenty five monkeys were used in this experiment. They were divided into 5 groups with 5 animals as the replicates in each group and were adapted for two weeks to the environment before the data were collected. The animals were subjected to 5 experimental diets, i.e. T1 (Basal diet); T2 (Basal diet + palm oil); T3 (Basal diet + palm oil + soybean hull); T4 (Basal diet + cholesterol) and T5 (Basal diet + cholesterol + soybean hull). The diets were given for a period of 8 months and water were given ad lib. Blood serum was taken before and during the experiment. The cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and HDL were measured using the spectrophotometric method. At the end of the experiment thorax surgery was performed on the animals under general anesthesia. The aorta was removed surgicalIy for histopathological observation stained with hematoxylin and eosine.The results showed that the soybean hull decreased the serum cholesterol level in the groups given palm oil (T2 vs T3) and the groups given cholesterol (T4 vs T5) i.e.: 163.4 vs 124.7 mg/dl and 359 vs 288.5 mg/dl respectively. The soybean hull did not significantly affect the serum triglyceride nor the LDL level when palm oil was given in the diet, but it significantly decreased the two parameters where cholesterol was given in the diet (102.5 vs 98.6 mg/dl triglyceride) and (231 .9 vs 183 mg/dl LDL). The soybean hull did not seem to affect the HDL level.Histopathological observation of the aorta indicated that given T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 caused 45%, 41 .67%, 31.25%, 86.25% and 53.38% lesion (Atheroma arteriale) resPectively.It was concluded that the soybean hull given in the diet has the ability to prevent the development of atherosclerosis in the aorta of the experimental animals展开更多
文摘Spinal cord injury results in the loss of sensory,motor,and autonomic functions,which almost always produces permanent physical disability.Thus,in the search for more effective treatments than those already applied for years,which are not entirely efficient,researches have been able to demonstrate the potential of biological strategies using biomaterials to tissue manufacturing through bioengineering and stem cell therapy as a neuroregenerative approach,seeking to promote neuronal recovery after spinal cord injury.Each of these strategies has been developed and meticulously evaluated in several animal models with the aim of analyzing the potential of interventions for neuronal repair and,consequently,boosting functional recovery.Although the majority of experimental research has been conducted in rodents,there is increasing recognition of the importance,and need,of evaluating the safety and efficacy of these interventions in non-human primates before moving to clinical trials involving therapies potentially promising in humans.This article is a literature review from databases(PubMed,Science Direct,Elsevier,Scielo,Redalyc,Cochrane,and NCBI)from 10 years ago to date,using keywords(spinal cord injury,cell therapy,non-human primates,humans,and bioengineering in spinal cord injury).From 110 retrieved articles,after two selection rounds based on inclusion and exclusion criteria,21 articles were analyzed.Thus,this review arises from the need to recognize the experimental therapeutic advances applied in non-human primates and even humans,aimed at deepening these strategies and identifying the advantages and influence of the results on extrapolation for clinical applicability in humans.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province(2022A1515010689)National Natural Science Foundation of China(82394422,82371874,82071421,82271902)Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province(2021ZT09Y007,2020B121201006)。
文摘Selective regulation of gene expression across distinct brain regions is crucial for establishing and maintaining subdivision identities.DNA methylation,a key regulator of gene transcription,modulates transcriptional activity through the conversion of 5-methylcytosine(5mC)to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine(5hmC).While DNA methylation is hypothesized to play an essential role in shaping brain identity by influencing gene expression patterns,its direct contribution,especially in primates,remains largely unexplored.This study examined DNA methylation landscapes and transcriptional profiles across four brain regions,including the cortex,cerebellum,striatum,and hippocampus,using samples from 12 rhesus monkeys.The cerebellum exhibited distinct epigenetic and transcriptional signatures,with differentially methylated regions(DMRs)significantly enriched in metabolic pathways.Notably,genes harboring clustered differentially hydroxymethylated regions(DhMRs)overlapped with those implicated in schizophrenia.Moreover,5mC located1 kb upstream of the ATG start codon was correlated with gene expression and exhibited region-specific associations with 5hmC.These findings provide insights into the coordinated regulation of cerebellum-specific 5mC and5hmC,highlighting their potential roles in defining cerebellar identity and contributing to neuropsychiatric diseases.
基金supported by Guangzhou Key Projects of Brain Science and Brain-Like Intelligence Technology(20200730009)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81870656)the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province of China(2017A030313610 and 2023A1515012397).
文摘Dear Editor,Traumatic optic neuropathy(TON)is a severe vision-threatening condition,with an incidence rate ranging from 0.7% to 2.5%[1].The limited regenerative capacity of the optic nerve and the challenges of nerve transplantation result in substantial and irreversible visual loss in patients with TON.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81972064)the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2021A1515111117,2020A1515011415).
文摘Demyelination and remyelination play key roles in spinal cord injury(SCI),affecting the recovery of motor and sensory functions.Research in rodent models is extensive,but the study of these processes in non-human primates is limited.Therefore,our goal was to thoroughly study the histological features of demyelination and remyelination after contusion injury of the cervical spinal cord in Macaca fascicularis.In a previous study,we created an SCI model in M.fascicularis by controlling the contusion displacement.We used Eriochrome Cyanine staining,immunohistochemical analysis,and toluidine blue staining to evaluate demyelination and remyelination.The results showed demyelination ipsilateral to the injury epicenter both rostrally and caudally,the former mainly impacting sensory pathways,while the latter primarily affected motor pathways.Toluidine blue staining showed myelin loss and axonal distension at the injury site.Schwann cell-derived myelin sheaths were only found at the center,while thinner myelin sheaths from oligodendrocytes were seen at the center and surrounding areas.Our study showed that long-lasting demyelination occurs in the spinal cord of M.fascicularis after SCI,with oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells playing a significant role in myelin sheath formation at the injury site.
基金supported by the patient organizations“Verticale”(to FEP).
文摘Spinal cord injury results in significant sensorimotor deficits,currently,there is no curative treatment for the symptoms induced by spinal cord injury.Basic and pre-clinical research on spinal cord injury relies on the development and characterization of appropriate animal models.These models should replicate the symptoms observed in human,allowing for the exploration of functional deficits and investigation into various aspects of physiopathology of spinal cord injury.Non-human primates,due to their close phylogenetic association with humans,share more neuroanatomical,genetic,and physiological similarities with humans than rodents.Therefore,the responses to spinal cord injury in nonhuman primates most likely resemble the responses to traumatism in humans.In this review,we will discuss nonhuman primate models of spinal cord injury,focusing on in vivo assessments,including behavioral tests,magnetic resonance imaging,and electrical activity recordings,as well as ex vivo histological analyses.Additionally,we will present therapeutic strategies developed in non-human primates and discuss the unique specificities of non-human primate models of spinal cord injury.
文摘Optical-neural stimulation,which encompasses cutting-edge techniques such as optogenetics and infrared neurostimulation,employs distinct mechanisms to modulate brain function and behavior.These advanced neuromodulation techniques offer accurate manipulation of targeted areas,even selectively modulating specific neurons,in the brain.This makes it possible to investigate the cause-and-effect connections between neural activity and behavior,allowing for a better comprehension of the intricate brain dynamics towards complex environments.Non-human primates serve as an essential animal model for investigating these complex functions in brain research,bridging the gap between the basic research and clinical applications.One of the earliest optical studies utilizing optogenetic neuromodulation in monkeys was conducted in 2009.Since then,the optical-neural stimulations have been effectively applied in non-human primates.This review summarises recent research that employed optogenetics or infrared neurostimulation techniques to regulate brain function and behavior in non-human primates.The current state of optical-neural stimulations discussed here demonstrates their efficacy in advancing the understanding of brain systems.Nevertheless,there are still challenges that need to be addressed before they can fully achieve their potential.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81172876,81273251,U1202228,81471620)the National Special Science Research Program of China(2012CBA01305)+1 种基金the National Science and Technology Major Project(2013ZX10001-002,2012ZX10001-007)the Knowledge Innovation Program of CAS(KSCX2-EW-R-13,KJZD-EW-L10-02)
文摘Non-human primates （NHPs） are phylogenetically close to humans, with many similarities in terms of physiology, anatomy, immunology, as well as neurology, all of which make them excellent experimental models for biomedical research. Compared with developed countries in America and Europe, China has relatively rich primate resources and has continually aimed to develop NHPs resources. Currently, China is a leading producer and a major supplier of NHPs on the international market. However, there are some deficiencies in feeding and management that have hampered China＇s growth in NHP research and materials. Nonetheless, China has recently established a number of primate animal models for human diseases and achieved marked scientific progress on infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, endocrine diseases, reproductive diseases, neurological diseases, and ophthalmic diseases, etc. Advances in these fields via NHP models will undoubtedly further promote the development of China＇s life sciences and pharmaceutical industry, and enhance China＇s position as a leader in NHP research. This review covers the current status of NHPs in China and other areas, highlighting the latest developments in disease models using NHPs, as well as outlining basic problems and proposing effective to better utilize NHP resources and further foster NHP research in China.
文摘In order to understand the fundamental questions of the biology of life and to duplicate the pathogenesis of human diseases, animal models using different experimental animals, such as rodents, Drosophila, Caenorhabditis elegans, and zebrafish, have been established and used widely for many decades. The controllability of environmental conditions, the high reproducibility, the ease of scale and the comparability of results, as well as the ability to use different standards for ethical protocols, all make an animal model the ideal tool for carrying out studies on human diseases and the development of novel pharmaceuticals and new therapies （Xue et al., 2014）. An ideal animal model should reflect the complete spectra of a specific human disease, with similar features on the following key issues： （1） genetic basis; （2） anatomy and physiology; （3） pathological response（s） and underlying mechanism（s）; （4） phenotypic endpoints as clinical studies; （5） responsiveness to known drugs with clinical efficacy; and （6） prediction of clinical efficacy （McGonigle and Ruggeri, 2014）.
基金supported by Onassis Foundation(to MT)the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health(NCCIH),No.R21AT008865(to NM)National Institute of Aging(NIA)/National Institute of Mental Health(NIMH),No.R01AG042512(to NM)
文摘The central nervous system is known to have limited regenerative capacity.Not only does this halt the human body’s reparative processes after central nervous system lesions,but it also impedes the establishment of effective and safe therapeutic options for such patients.Despite the high prevalence of stroke and spinal cord injury in the general population,these conditions remain incurable and place a heavy burden on patients’families and on society more broadly.Neuroregeneration and neural engineering are diverse biomedical fields that attempt reparative treatments,utilizing stem cells-based strategies,biologically active molecules,nanotechnology,exosomes and highly tunable biodegradable systems(e.g.,certain hydrogels).Although there are studies demonstrating promising preclinical results,safe clinical translation has not yet been accomplished.A key gap in clinical translation is the absence of an ideal animal or ex vivo model that can perfectly simulate the human microenvironment,and also correspond to all the complex pathophysiological and neuroanatomical factors that affect functional outcomes in humans after central nervous system injury.Such an ideal model does not currently exist,but it seems that the nonhuman primate model is uniquely qualified for this role,given its close resemblance to humans.This review considers some regenerative therapies for central nervous system repair that hold promise for future clinical translation.In addition,it attempts to uncover some of the main reasons why clinical translation might fail without the implementation of nonhuman primate models in the research pipeline.
基金the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDB13010000)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31130051)
文摘In the past three years, RNA-guided Cas9 nuclease from the microbial clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats （CRISPR） adaptive immune system has been used to facilitate efficient genome editing in many model and non-model animals. However, its application in nonhuman primates is still at the early stage, though in view of the similarities in anatomy, physiology, behavior and genetics, closely related nonhuman primates serve as optimal models for human biology and disease studies. In this review, we summarize the current proceedings of gene editing using CRISPR/Cas9 in nonhuman primates.
基金supported by grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30900793)a grant from Key Project from National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30930015) to P.S.+1 种基金West Light Foundation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences to H.Y.by a start-up fund of "Hundreds Talent Program" from Chinese Academy of Sciences
文摘Formyl peptide receptors (FPRs) were observed to expand in rodents and were recently suggested as candidate vomeronasal chemo-sensory receptors. Since vomeronasal chemosensory receptors usually underwent positive selection and evolved concordantly with the vomeronasal organ (VNO) morphology, we surveyed FPRs in primates in which VNO morphology is greatly diverse and thus it would provide us a clearer view of VNO-FPRs evolution. By screening available primate genome sequences, we obtained the FPR repertoires in representative primate species. As a result, we did not find FPR family size expansion in primates. Further analyses showed no evolution-ary force variance between primates with or without VNO structure, which indicated that there was no functional divergence among pri-mates FPRs. Our results suggest that primates lack the VNO-specific FPRs and the FPR expansion is not a common phenomenon in mammals outside rodent lineage, regardless of VNO complexity.
文摘Strategies to fill the huge gap in supply versus demand of human organs include bioartificial organs, growing humanized organs in animals, cell therapy, and implantable bioengineered constructs. Reproducing the complex relations between different cell types, generation of adequate vasculature, and immunological complications are road blocks in generation of bioengineered organs, while immunological complications limit the use of humanized organs produced in animals. Recent developments in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) biology offer a possibility of generating human, patient-specific organs in non-human primates (NHP) using patient-derived iPSC and NHP-derived iPSC lacking the critical developmental genes for the organ of interest complementing a NHP tetraploid embryo. The organ derived in this way will have the same human leukocyte antigen (HLA) profile as the patient. This approach can be curative in genetic disorders as this offers the possibility of gene manipulation and correction of the patient's genome at the iPSC stage before tetraploid complementation. The process of generation of patient-specific organs such as the liver in this way has the great advantage of making use of the natural signaling cascades in the natural milieu probably resulting in organs of great quality for transplantation. However, the inexorable scientific developments in this direction involve several social issues and hence we need to educate and prepare society in advance to accept the revolutionary consequences, good, bad and ugly.
基金supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA23080201,XDA19050202)National Natural Science Foundation of China(31821001)+1 种基金National Key R&D Program of China(2016YFC0503200)。
文摘Viruses can be transmitted from animals to humans(and vice versa)and across animal species.As such,host-virus interactions and transmission have attracted considerable attention.Non-human primates(NHPs),our closest evolutionary relatives,are susceptible to human viruses and certain pathogens are known to circulate between humans and NHPs.Here,we generated global statistics on virus infections in NHPs(VI-NHPs)based on a literature search and public data mining.In total,140 NHP species from 12 families are reported to be infected by 186 DNA and RNA virus species,68.8%of which are also found in humans,indicating high potential for crossing species boundaries.
基金This project was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program:2007CB411600)the Natural Science Foundation of China (3063001630570292)
文摘Since the birth of molecular evolutionary analysis, primates have been a central focus of study and mitochondrial DNA is well suited to these endeavors because of its unique features. Surprisingly, to date no comprehensive evaluation of the nucleotide substitution patterns has been conducted on the mitochondrial genome of primates. Here, we analyzed the evolutionary patterns and evaluated selection and recombination in the mitochondrial genomes of 44 Primates species downloaded from Genl3ank. The results revealed that a strong rate heterogeneity occurred among sites and genes in all comparisons. Likewise, an obvious decline in primate nucleotide diversity was noted in the subunit rRNAs and tRNAs as compared to the protein-coding genes. Within 13 protein-coding genes, the pattern of nonsynonymous divergence was similar to that of overall nucleotide divergence, while synonymous changes differed only for individual genes, indicating that the rate heterogeneity may result from the rate of change at nonsynonymous sites. Codon usage analysis revealed that there was intermediate codon usage bias in primate protein-coding genes, and supported the idea that GC mutation pressure might determine codon usage and that positive selection is not the driving force for the codon usage bias. Neutrality tests using site-specific positive selection from a Bayesian framework indicated no sites were under positive selection for any gene, consistent with near neutrality. Recombination tests based on the pairwise homoplasy test statistic supported complete linkage even for much older divergent primate species. Thus, with the exception of rate heterogeneity among mitochondrial genes, evaluating the validity assumed complete linkage and selective neutrality in primates prior to phylogenetic or phylogeographic analysis seems unnecessary.
基金Supported by Russian Science Foundation,No.16-15-10432。
文摘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.
文摘Transplantation therapy for diabetes in humans is limited by the low availability of human donor whole pancreas or islets. Outcomes are complicated by immunosuppressive drug toxicity. Xenotransplantation is a strategy to overcome supply problems. Implantation of tissue obtained early during embryogenesis is a way to reduce transplant immunogenicity. Pig insulin is biologically active in humans. In that regard the pig is an appropriate xenogeneic organ donor. Insulin-producing cells originating from embryonic pig pancreas obtained very early following pancreatic primordium formation [embryonic day 28 (E28)] engraft long-term in rhesus macaques. Endocrine cells originating from embryonic pig pancreas transplanted in host mesentery migrate to mesenteric lymph nodes, engraft, differentiate and improve glucose tolerance in rhesus macaques without the need for immune suppression. Transplantation of embryonic pig pancreas is a novel approach towards beta cell replacement therapy that could be applicable to humans.
文摘Elucidating the closest living relatives of extant primates is essential for fully understanding important biological processes related to the genomic and phenotypic evolution of primates, especially of humans. However, the phylogenetic placement of these primate relatives remains controversial, with three primary hypotheses currently espoused based on morphological and molecular evidence. In the present study, we used two algorithms to analyze differently partitioned genomic datasets consisting of 45.4 Mb of conserved non-coding elements and 393 kb of concatenated coding sequences to test these hypotheses. We assessed different genomic histories and compared with other molecular studies found solid support for colugos being the closest living relatives of primates. Our phylogeny showed Cercopithecinae to have low levels of nucleotide divergence, especially for Papionini, and gibbons to have a high rate of divergence. The MCMCtree comprehensively updated divergence dates of early evolution of Primatomorpha and Primates.
基金the National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program:2007CB411600)the Natural Science Foundation of China(30630016,30570292)。
文摘Since the birth of molecular evolutionary analysis,primates have been a central focus of study and mitochondrial DNA is well suited to these endeavors because of its unique features.Surprisingly,to date no comprehensive evaluation of the nucleotide substitution patterns has been conducted on the mitochondrial genome of primates.Here,we analyzed the evolutionary patterns and evaluated selection and recombination in the mitochondrial genomes of 44 Primates species downloaded from GenBank.The results revealed that a strong rate heterogeneity occurred among sites and genes in all comparisons.Likewise,an obvious decline in primate nucleotide diversity was noted in the subunit rRNAs and tRNAs as compared to the protein-coding genes.Within 13 protein-coding genes,the pattern of nonsynonymous divergence was similar to that of overall nucleotide divergence,while synonymous changes differed only for individual genes,indicating that the rate heterogeneity may result from the rate of change at nonsynonymous sites.Codon usage analysis revealed that there was intermediate codon usage bias in primate protein-coding genes,and supported the idea that GC mutation pressure might determine codon usage and that positive selection is not the driving force for the codon usage bias.Neutrality tests using site-specific positive selection from a Bayesian framework indicated no sites were under positive selection for any gene,consistent with near neutrality.Recombination tests based on the pairwise homoplasy test statistic supported complete linkage even for much older divergent primate species.Thus,with the exception of rate heterogeneity among mitochondrial genes,evaluating the validity assumed complete linkage and selective neutrality in primates prior to phylogenetic or phylogeographic analysis seems unnecessary.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81870682,81961128021,81670885)National Key R&D Program of China(2022YEF0203200,2021ZD0200103,2018YFA0108300)+2 种基金Guangdong Provincial Key R&D Programs(2018B030335001,2018B030337001)Local Innovative and Research Teams Project of Guangdong(2017BT01S138)Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou(202007030011,202007030010)。
文摘Strabismus and amblyopia are common ophthalmologic developmental diseases caused by abnormal visual experiences. However, the underlying pathogenesis and visual defects are still not fully understood. Most studies have used experimental interference to establish diseaseassociated animal models, while ignoring the natural pathophysiological mechanisms. This study was designed to investigate whether natural strabismus and amblyopia are associated with abnormal neurological defects. We screened one natural strabismic monkey(Macaca fascicularis) and one natural amblyopic monkey from hundreds of monkeys, and retrospectively analyzed one human strabismus case. Neuroimaging, behavioral,neurophysiological, neurostructural, and genovariation features were systematically evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), behavioral tasks, flash visual evoked potentials(FVEP),electroretinogram(ERG), optical coherence tomography(OCT), and whole-genome sequencing(WGS), respectively. Results showed that the strabismic patient and natural strabismic and amblyopic monkeys exhibited similar abnormal asymmetries in brain structure, i.e., ipsilateral impaired right hemisphere. Visual behavior, visual function, retinal structure, and fundus of the monkeys were impaired. Aberrant asymmetry in binocular visual function and structure between the strabismic and amblyopic monkeys was closely related, with greater impairment of the left visual pathway.Several similar known mutant genes for strabismus and amblyopia were also identified. In conclusion,natural strabismus and amblyopia are accompanied by abnormal asymmetries of the visual system,especially visual neurophysiological and neurostructural defects. Our results suggest that future therapeutic and mechanistic studies should consider defects and asymmetries throughout the entire visual system.
文摘Twenty five monkeys were used in this experiment. They were divided into 5 groups with 5 animals as the replicates in each group and were adapted for two weeks to the environment before the data were collected. The animals were subjected to 5 experimental diets, i.e. T1 (Basal diet); T2 (Basal diet + palm oil); T3 (Basal diet + palm oil + soybean hull); T4 (Basal diet + cholesterol) and T5 (Basal diet + cholesterol + soybean hull). The diets were given for a period of 8 months and water were given ad lib. Blood serum was taken before and during the experiment. The cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and HDL were measured using the spectrophotometric method. At the end of the experiment thorax surgery was performed on the animals under general anesthesia. The aorta was removed surgicalIy for histopathological observation stained with hematoxylin and eosine.The results showed that the soybean hull decreased the serum cholesterol level in the groups given palm oil (T2 vs T3) and the groups given cholesterol (T4 vs T5) i.e.: 163.4 vs 124.7 mg/dl and 359 vs 288.5 mg/dl respectively. The soybean hull did not significantly affect the serum triglyceride nor the LDL level when palm oil was given in the diet, but it significantly decreased the two parameters where cholesterol was given in the diet (102.5 vs 98.6 mg/dl triglyceride) and (231 .9 vs 183 mg/dl LDL). The soybean hull did not seem to affect the HDL level.Histopathological observation of the aorta indicated that given T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 caused 45%, 41 .67%, 31.25%, 86.25% and 53.38% lesion (Atheroma arteriale) resPectively.It was concluded that the soybean hull given in the diet has the ability to prevent the development of atherosclerosis in the aorta of the experimental animals
