CD56 identifies monocytes and not natural killer cells in rhesus macaques.

BACKGROUND: CD56 is a lineage-specific marker of human natural killer (NK) cells. There are conflicts in the literature regarding the role of CD56 as a marker of NK cells in non-human primates. In the present study, we examined the role of CD56 in identifying rhesus NK cells. METHODS: The immunophenotype of normal macaque and human NK cells was analyzed by two- and three-color flow cytometry. Flow cytometric cell sorting was subsequently used to deplete or purify NK cells; the resulting cell populations were then used in standard chromium release assays of NK lytic function. RESULTS: In peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the rhesus macaque, CD56 was expressed primarily on cells with the light scatter and immunophenotypic profile of monocytes. Flow cytometric depletion of rhesus CD56(+) monocytic cells did not diminish functional activity against K562 cells, whereas depletion of CD8(+) or CD16(+) lymphocytes completely abrogated functional activity. Three-color flow cytometric analysis of CD8(+), CD16(+) lymphocytes showed that they expressed other markers (CD2, CD7, TIA-1) associated with NK cells, but notably, not CD56. CONCLUSIONS: These studies demonstrate that CD56 is not suitable as a marker of NK cells in the rhesus macaque.     

CXCR4嗜性SHIVKU-1病毒静脉感染中国恒河猴初步研究

目的了解SHIVKU一1静脉途径感染中国恒河猴的感染特点及进展规律。方法两只健康中国恒河猴,静脉感染SHIVKU-1病毒,定期采样检测血浆病毒载量、CD4＋／CD8＋比值、CD4＋T细胞绝对数变化和血清中抗SHIVKU-1特异性IgG抗体水平。多色流式技术分析外周血、腹股沟淋巴结和十二指肠粘膜固有层CD4＋T淋巴细胞记忆细胞亚群变化。结果两只实验猴成功感染SHIVKU-1病毒,一直到感染后3个月均保持稳定水平的病毒载量。外周血CD4＋T淋巴细胞下降明显,CD4＋／CD8＋T细胞比值严重倒置。CD4＋Tcm细胞比例在经历了感染早期的下降后,大幅升高,尤其是外周血和淋巴结。CD4＋Tem则在粘膜固有层中增加明显。结论SHIVKU．1静脉途径成功感染了中国恒河猴,为SHIV／中国恒河猴疾病及评价模型的建立奠定了良好的基础,为今后使用此模型评价抗病毒药物或疫苗提供了条件。     

Surface phenotype and rapid quantification of blood dendritic cell subsets in the rhesus macaque

Background  The study of dendritic cell (DC) biology in the rhesus macaque is becoming increasingly important but is limited by incomplete characterization and the lack of a rapid assay to quantify cells.
Methods  We characterized the surface phenotype of myeloid (mDC) and plasmacytoid DC (pDC) subsets in healthy rhesus macaque blood and developed a flow cytometry-based assay for absolute DC determinations.
Results  Rhesus CD11c⁺ mDC were CD16⁺ CD11b⁺ CD56^lo CD8⁻ CD1c⁻ whereas CD123⁺ pDC lacked expression of these markers. Precise DC determinations were performed using a rapid two-step assay combining the analysis of whole blood and peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL).
Conclusions  Antibodies to CD11b, CD56 and CD16 must be omitted from the lineage antibody cocktail to prevent inadvertent gating-out of DC when analyzing rhesus blood. The combined whole-blood/PBL quantification assay will be invaluable for the rapid and repeated monitoring of blood DC counts in this species.     

Hematologic and lymphocyte immunophenotypic reference values for normal rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) umbilical cord blood; gravidity may play a role in study design

Hematology and flow cytometry reference values for rhesus umbilical cord blood (UCB) were established in 17 healthy infant rhesus monkeys delivered by elective cesarean section 10 days preterm. The infants were born to age matched, singly caged primigravid or secundigravid dams. The hematology and flow cytometry values were determined by automated cell counter and by FACS. No significant differences were observed with respect to infant gender. With respect to gravida, the primigravid infants had a significantly higher percentage (P= 0.05) of CD20(+) B lymphocytes in UCB. These results provide useful reference values for future studies of maternal - fetal disease transmission, vaccine and drug evaluation in non-human primate pregnancy, as well as fetal programming and immune modulation, gene therapy and the use of UCB as a source of stem cells for research and transplantation. Importantly, our results suggest that maternal gravidity may be an important variable to consider.     

A comparative study of the frequencies of radiation-induced chromosome aberrations in somatic and germ cells of the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta)

Frequencies of radiation-induced chromosome aberrations in spermatogonia, peripheral blood lymphocytes and bone-marrow cells of the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) and in human blood lymphocytes, were determined at different exposures of X-rays. The dose-response curve for the induction of reciprocal translocations in spermatogonia suggested a “hump” at about 200 rad. The absolute frequencies of chromosome aberrations in somatic and germ cells of the rhesus monkey were low in comparison with most other mammalian species and the ratio between aberrations in the two tissues was 25 to 1 at the 100 rad level. Although the numbers of “effective chromosome arms” in man and rhesus monkey are similar (81 vs. 83), the rhesus monkey showed a lower rate of induction of dicentrics in blood lymphocytes than man at all doses, reaching statistical significance at the 300 rad level.     

The CD1d natural killer T-cell antigen presentation pathway is highly conserved between humans and rhesus macaques

Natural killer T (NKT) cells play an important role in controlling cancers, infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases. Although the rhesus macaque is a useful primate model for many human diseases such as infectious and autoimmune diseases, little is known about their NKT cells. We analyzed V alpha 24TCR+ T cells from rhesus macaque peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer) and interleukin-2. We found that rhesus macaques possess V alpha 24TCR+ T cells, suggesting that recognition of alpha-GalCer is highly conserved between rhesus macaques and humans. The amino acid sequences of the V-J junction for the V alpha 24TCR of rhesus macaque and human NKT cells are highly conserved (93% similarity), and the CD1d alpha1-alpha2 domains of both species are highly homologous (95.6%). These findings indicate that the rhesus macaque is a useful primate model for understanding the contribution of NKT cells to the control of human diseases.     

北京地区实验恒河猴外周血T淋巴细胞亚群分析

目的测定正常实验恒河猴外周血T淋巴细胞亚群,获取基础数值。方法使用BD FACS Calibur流式细胞仪,Cell QuestTM3.3分析软件,应用CD3-Percp、CD4-FITC、CD8-PE荧光标记的抗体,对北京地区84只实验恒河猴的外周血T淋巴细胞亚群进行统计分析。结果北京地区实验恒河猴外周血CD3＋,CD4＋T淋巴细胞占淋巴细胞（LYM）的百分比为32.82%±5.93%;CD3^＋CD8^＋T淋巴细胞占淋巴细胞百分比为（23.99±6.34）%;CD4^＋/CD8^＋的比值为1.45±0.41;LYM百分比为白细胞的（49.70±14.00）%;LYMF为（4.634±2.181）×106/mL。结论实验用恒河猴T淋巴细胞亚群的基础数值测定为相关比较医学研究奠定基础。     

Immunogenetic studies of maternal-fetal relationships: a review: why newborn rhesus monkeys don't get hemolytic disease

The discovery of the Rh blood group factor in humans was made using the red blood cells of rhesus monkeys. Because of its importance to human medicine and immunogenetics, this finding contributed greatly to the appreciation of the importance of nonhuman primates in research. It is now widely recognized that blood group incompatibility between mother and fetus can lead to differential fertility, fetal death, and hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN).The blood group systems of several nonhuman primate species have been studied in detail and found to be analogous, although not identical, to those of humans. It is therefore surprising that HDN has been reported in only four nonhuman primate species-marmosets, sacred baboons, chimpanzees, and orangutans. Maternal-fetal blood group incompatibility and its consequences have been extensively studied in rhesus monkeys, and these macaques may well be representative of many nonhuman primates. Rhesus monkeys exhibit all five of the conditions that lead to HDN in humans: (1) blood group incompatible matings: (2) transplacental hemorrhage: (3) maternal immunization to blood group alloantigens on fetal erythrocytes: (4) transplacental transfer of maternal antibodies; and (5) coating of the newborn's erythrocytes. Yet, newborns show no clinical or hematological evidence of HDN.We have shown that the rhesus alloantibodies engendered by transplacental immunization do not mediate immune elimination of the newborn's erythrocytes. Evaluation of the maternal antibodies demonstrated that they have low titers and low avidities and perhaps belong to IgG subclasses that do not bind effectively to receptors on phagocytic cells of the rhesus reticuloendothelial system. The newborn's genotype may also affect the expression of allogeneic blood group antigens and thereby help protect the newborn's cells from destruction. These factors together undoubtedly play a major role in the survival of the antibody-coated newborn's RBC and are thus able to account for the absence of HDN in this species.     

Nested-PCR检测恒河猴泡沫病毒

目的用nested-PCR检测恒河猴泡沫病毒SFV的前病毒形式。方法从SFV-1的pol区域选择两对引物分别对原代猴肾细胞（rhesus monkey kidney,RMK）及猴外周血淋巴细胞（peripheral blood lymphocytes,PBLs）进行体外扩增,扩增产物经1.0%的琼脂糖凝胶电泳,证实其特异性。阳性对照使用具有典型泡沫样病变的RMK377细胞株的前病毒DNA,阳性对照的PCR扩增产物经测序证实,阴性对照为恒河猴的SRV-1cDNA。结果nested-PCR能快速灵敏的直接从猴外周血淋巴细胞检出SFV的前病毒形式,与RMK细胞培养结果基本相一致。结论本实验所建立的检测SFV的nested-PCR法能快速准确的检测猴群中的SFV的带毒情况,对于提高实验猴的质量具有重要意义。     

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope epitope-specific CD4(+) T lymphocytes in simian/human immunodeficiency virus-infected and vaccinated rhesus monkeys detected using a peptide-major histocompatibility complex class II tetramer

A tetrameric recombinant major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-peptide complex was used to quantitate human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope (Env)-specific CD4(+) T cells in vaccinated and in simian/human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV)-infected rhesus monkeys. A rhesus monkey MHC class II DR molecule, Mamu-DR*W201, and an HIV-1 Env peptide (p46) were employed to construct this tetrameric complex. A p46-specific proliferative response was seen in sorted, tetramer-binding, but not nonbinding, CD4(+) T cells, directly demonstrating that this response was mediated by the epitope-specific lymphocytes. Although staining of whole blood from 10 SHIV-infected Mamu-DR*W201(+) rhesus monkeys failed to demonstrate tetramer-binding CD4(+) T cells (<0.02%), p46-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 9 of these 10 monkeys had detectable p46 tetramer-binding cells, comprising 0.5 to 15.2% of the CD4(+) T cells. p46-stimulated PBMCs from 7 of 10 Mamu-DR*W201(+) monkeys vaccinated with a recombinant canarypox virus-HIV-1 env construct also demonstrated p46 tetramer-binding cells, comprising 0.9 to 7.2% of the CD4(+) T cells. Thus, Env p46-specific CD4(+) T cells can be detected by tetrameric Mamu-DR*W201-p46 complex staining of PBMCs in both SHIV-infected and vaccinated rhesus monkeys. These epitope-specific cell populations appear to be present in peripheral blood at a very low frequency.     

Rhesus macaques inoculated with molecularly cloned simian immunodeficiency virus

We have isolated a biologically active molecular clone of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), SIVmac 1A11, originally obtained from a rhesus macaque at the New England Regional Primate Research Center. Virus derived from cells transfected with this clone is cytopathic for rhesus peripheral blood mononuclear cells, replicates in cultures of rhesus macrophages, and infects rhesus macaques when inoculated intravenously. Six macaques inoculated with SIVmac 1A11 all became infected and produced antibodies to viral envelope glycoproteins that neutralized virus. Antibodies to viral core proteins were detected in only one animal. No clinical signs of disease were observed throughout 7 months postinoculation.     

C亚型SHIVCHN19P4强毒株在中国恒河猴体内的传代研究

目的研究C亚型SHIVCHN19P4强毒株在中国恒河猴体内传代中病毒学和免疫学等反应的变化特点,分离制备SHIVCHN19P4中国恒河猴传代适应株病毒。方法选择4只健康成年恒河猴,其中两只经后肢静脉感染SHIVCHN19P4病毒,60 d后,分别采集EDTA抗凝全血静脉途径传代至另两只猴,使用流式细胞术、PCR、结合抗体检测和序列分析等方法研究传代动物病毒学、免疫学和序列变异特点。选择性从传代动物感染急性期外周血中分离PBMC,CD8＋T细胞敲除后与正常PBMC共培养分离病毒。结果 4只传代动物均获得系统性感染,且传代后病毒毒力明显增强,序列分析发现SHIVCHN19P4病毒序列在传代过程中发生适应性改变;同时,成功分离制备SHIVCHN19P4传代适应性病毒株。结论 SHIVCHN19P4在中国恒河猴体内适应性传代研究为进一步建立C亚型SHIV强毒株/SAIDS模型奠定了良好的实验基础,为研究C亚型HIV-1流行株致病特点以及预防性黏膜疫苗和杀微生物的有效性评价提供了数据支持。     

Elevated frequency of CD1c+ myeloid dendritic cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of simian/human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) repeatedly infected Chinese rhesus macaques

CD1c+ myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) in the peripheral blood of 30 SHIV-SF162p4 and SIVmac251 sequentially infected Chinese rhesus macaques were examined by flow cytometry to obtain further insight into mDC alterations in HIV/AIDS. The CD1c+ cells were found to be mononuclear leukocytes rather than granulocytes, and most of them expressed CD20. CD1c+mDCs (CD1c+CD20−) consisted of two morphological subsets: the granular and the large CD1c+mDCs. The expression of HLA-DR, CD86, and CD11b, but no CCR7, CD83 and CD123, together with their endocytotic capacity indicated that they were immature mDCs. Their frequency at weeks 10 and 12 post-infection was significantly higher than that of un-infected ones; the large CD1c+mDC level was significantly different between time points and almost absent from un-infected rhesus monkeys; significant correlations between CD1c+mDCs and plasma viral load levels were also observed. These data indicated a possible role for CD1c+mDCs in the pathophysiological process of SIV/HIV infection.     

IL-21对恒河猴SHIV特异性CD8~+T细胞毒性效应的影响

目的探讨白细胞介素21(interleukin 21,IL-21)对SHIV特异性CD8+T细胞毒性效应的影响。方法定时采集16只SHIV感染恒河猴的外周血,应用实时荧光定量RT-PCR测定病毒载量,流式细胞仪测定CD8+T细胞绝对数,并且体外检测经IL-21刺激SHIV特异性CD8+T细胞后其IL-21R、CD107a及胞内穿孔素(perforin)的表达水平。结果体内实验结果表明外周血病毒载量和CD8+T细胞绝对数之间呈一定程度的负相关。体外实验结果表明SHIV特异性CD8+T细胞经IL-21刺激后其细胞表面表达的IL-21R显著上调,而且perforin+CD8+T细胞和CD107a+CD8+T细胞的百分比上升,同未经刺激的对照组相比具有统计学差异。结论 IL-21能够促进SHIV特异性CD8+T细胞的毒性效应。     

Normal T-cell turnover in sooty mangabeys harboring active simian immunodeficiency virus infection

Sooty mangabeys naturally infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) remain healthy though they harbor viral loads comparable to those in rhesus macaques that progress to AIDS. To assess the immunologic basis of disease resistance in mangabeys, we compared the effect of SIV infection on T-cell regeneration in both monkey species. Measurement of the proliferation marker Ki-67 by flow cytometry showed that mangabeys harbored proliferating T cells at a level of 3 to 4% in peripheral blood irrespective of their infection status. In contrast, rhesus macaques demonstrated a naturally high fraction of proliferating T cells (7%) that increased two- to threefold following SIV infection. Ki-67(+) T cells were predominantly CD45RA(-), indicating increased proliferation of memory cells in macaques. Quantitation of an episomal DNA product of T-cell receptor alpha rearrangement (termed alpha1 circle) showed that the concentration of recent thymic emigrants in blood decreased with age over a 2-log unit range in both monkey species, consistent with age-related thymic involution. SIV infection caused a limited decrease of alpha1 circle numbers in mangabeys as well as in macaques. Dilution of alpha1 circles by T-cell proliferation likely contributed to this decrease, since alpha1 circle numbers and Ki-67(+) fractions correlated negatively. These findings are compatible with immune exhaustion mediated by abnormal T-cell proliferation, rather than with early thymic failure, in SIV-infected macaques. Normal T-cell turnover in SIV-infected mangabeys provides an explanation for the long-term maintenance of a functional immune system in these hosts.     

猴泡沫病毒（SFV）RT-nestedPCR检测方法的建立及初步应用

目的建立实验猴群及相关生物制品猴泡沫病毒（SFV）的PCR检测方法。方法选择SFV-1、SFV-3、SFVCPZ前病毒序列的pol基因同源性较高的区域设计嵌套引物对SFV-1毒种进行RT-nestedPCR扩增并克隆测序,以确定其准确性,通过验证方法的特异性和敏感性,初步应用该方法对恒河猴外周血淋巴细胞（PBLs）,常用猴肾传代细胞及猴源性生物制品进行检测。结果经RT-nestedPCR扩增出的片断与SFV-1 cDNA序列同源性达到99%,对10只恒河猴的检测结果为5只阳性,5只阴性,对常用猴肾传代细胞及脊髓灰质炎疫苗的检测结果均为阴性。结论所建立的SFV RT-nestedPCR检测方法能准确的检测出恒河猴SFV的感染情况,对控制实验猴群的质量具有重要意义。该方法可用于检测猴源性生物制品中SFV的污染情况,为保证生物制品应用的安全性提供一定依据。     

Retroviral vectors for vaccine development: induction of HIV-1-specific humoral and cellular immune responses in rhesus macaques using a novel MLV(HIV-1) pseudotype vector

Retroviral vectors have yet not been tested for their potential as vaccines despite their frequent utilization in gene therapy allowing for highly efficient gene transfer into a number of cell types and their suitability for large-scale production in biotechnology. To investigate MLV-based vectors suitability for inducing immune response against HIV-1-antigens, we generated a MLV(HIV-1) pseudotype vector enabling CD4-specific transduction of HIV-1 genes env, vpu, tat and rev originating from the pathogenic SHIV-89.6P. Functional expression of the lentiviral genes in packaging cells, human and rhesus CD4+ target cells was demonstrated by various assays. Following highly efficient ex vivo transduction, up to 3.4x10(7) autologous, transfer vector-positive rhesus peripheral blood mononuclear cells (rhPBMCs) were re-inoculated into a rhesus macaque. Five weeks after the initial inoculation HIV-1 Env-specific antibodies were detected using ELISA. ELIspot-assay revealed the induction of a HIV-1 Rev and Env-specific CTL-response 7.5 weeks after immunization. Thus, these novel MLV(HIV-1) vectors facilitate efficient transduction and subsequent expression of HIV-1-genes in CD4-positive host cells. Induction of both humoral and cellular HIV-1-specific immune responses in vivo confirmed their potential as an effective HIV-1 vaccine to be further studied in SHIV/rhesus macaque model of lentivirus infection.     

Immunophenotype and cytokine profiles of rhesus monkey CD56bright and CD56dim decidual natural killer cells

The primate endometrium is characterized in pregnancy by a tissue-specific population of CD56(bright) natural killer (NK) cells. These cells are observed in human, rhesus, and other nonhuman primate decidua. However, other subsets of NK cells are present in the decidua and may play distinct roles in pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to define the surface marker phenotype of rhesus monkey decidual NK (dNK) cell subsets, and to address functional differences by profiling cytokine and chemokine secretion in contrast with decidual T cells and macrophages. Rhesus monkey decidual leukocytes were obtained from early pregnancy tissues, and were characterized by flow cytometry and multiplex assay of secreted factors. We concluded that the major NK cell population in rhesus early pregnancy decidua are CD56(bright) CD16(+)NKp30(-) decidual NK cells, with minor CD56(dim) and CD56(neg) dNK cells. Intracellular cytokine staining demonstrated that CD56(dim) and not CD56(bright) dNK cells are the primary interferon-gamma (IFNG) producers. In addition, the profile of other cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors secreted by these two dNK cell populations was generally similar, but distinct from that of peripheral blood NK cells. Finally, analysis of multiple pregnancies from eight dams revealed that the decidual immune cell profile is characteristic of an individual animal and is consistently maintained across successive pregnancies, suggesting that the uterine immune environment in pregnancy is carefully regulated in the rhesus monkey decidua.     

恒河猴皮肤干细胞的体外培养纯化与鉴定

探索恒河猴皮肤干细胞的体外培养及纯化条件,为进一步的研究奠定基础. 通过组织块培养法和消化培养法 在体外培养恒河猴表皮细胞,然后用Ⅳ型胶原吸附法吸附20 min,获得快吸附细胞. 对快吸附细胞进行克隆培养,并进行免疫细胞化学双标染色、RT PCR鉴定 β1 整合素和角蛋白15的表达,用流式细胞仪鉴定纯化前后的细胞中 β1 整合素和角蛋白15的阳性细胞比例,并通过透射电镜观察细胞的超微结构. 组织块培养法和消化培养法均可获得表皮细胞,Ⅳ型胶原纯化后的细胞胞体较小,饱满,核/浆比例大,细胞镶嵌状排列. 细胞克隆分析显示,细胞全克隆生长率高. 细胞免疫荧光显示,分选后的细胞显示 β1 整合素和角蛋白15阳性. RT PCR检查呈现 β1 整合素和角蛋白15的特异性片段. 流式细胞仪检查显示,纯化前的细胞中角蛋白15阳性细胞占总细胞中的比例为8％, β1 整合素阳性细胞的比例为10.7％;纯化后,角蛋白15阳性细胞的比例为89.4％, β1 整合素阳性细胞的比例为88.5％. 通过组织块培养法和消化培养法均可培养获得活性良好的表皮细胞,Ⅳ型胶原吸附法是一种简便、有效的皮肤干细胞分离方法,可以为进一步的眼表上皮替代重建眼表提供足量的高纯度的干细胞建立可靠的物质基础.