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BACKGROUND: C-C motif Ligand 7 (CCL7) has been reported to be associated with asthma severity in humans. Cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis; Mf) are often used as animal model of asthma but little is known about Mf genetic profile such as polymorphism. Our aim was to identify CCL7 polymorphism in Mf as a potential surrogate marker for identification of allergen responsiveness in the Mf model of asthma. METHODS: Real-time PCR was performed on archive of bronchoalveolar fluid samples previously collected from Mf that were exposed to allergen. Expression of CCL7 mRNA was evaluated, and sequencing technique was used to identify polymorphism in this gene. RESULTS: The results showed that CCL7 expression did not differ between Mf, despite a trend of lower expression in Mf that exhibited high response to allergen. By direct DNA sequencing of CCL7, 10 sequence variants were identified; three in promoter region (-460 G/A, -459 A/G, -456 -/A ), two in exon 1 (9 A/G, 65 G/C), four in intron 1 (135 T/C, 254 T/C, 420 T/C, 453 A/G), and one in intron 2 (1205 T/A). CONCLUSION: There was an association between Mf sensitivity to allergen with CCL7 promoter polymorphism at (-456 -/A). These results suggest that CCL7 may be a potential genetic marker to identify Mf sensitivity to allergen, which could be a useful tool to efficiently select for Mf model of asthma. KEYWORDS: asthma, CCL7, allergy, Ascaris suum, nonhuman primate

The mammary gland contains adult stem cells that are capable of self-renewal and are likely target for neoplastic transformation leading to breast cancer. In this study, we developed a cell culture derived from the mammary glands of cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) (MfMC) and furthermore identified the expression of markers for stemness and estrogen receptor-associated activities. We found that the primary culture can be successfully subcultured to at least 3 passages, primarily epithelial-like in morphology, the cultured cells remained heterogenous in phenotype as they expressed epithelial cell markers CD24, CK18, and marker for fibroblast S1004A. Importantly, the cell population also consistently expressed the markers of mammary stem cells (ITGB1 or CD29 and ITGA6 or CD49f), mesenchymal stem cells (CD73 and CD105) and pluripotency (NANOG, OCT4, SOX2). In addition to this, the cells were also positive for Estrogen Receptor (ER), and ER-activated marker Trefoil Factor 1, suggesting an estrogen responsiveness of the culture model. These results indicate that our cell culture model is a reliable model for acquiring a population of cells with mammary stem cell properties and that these cultures may also serve as a reservoir from which more purified populations of stem cell populations can be isolated in the future.

The mammary gland contains adult stem cells that are capable of self-renewal and are likely target for neoplastic transformation leading to breast cancer. In this study, we developed a cell culture derived from the mammary glands of cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis)(MfMC) and furthermore identified the expression of markers for stemness and estrogenreceptor-associated activities. We found that the primary culture can be successfully subcultured to at least 3 passages, primarily epithelial-like in morphology, the cultured cells remained heterogenous in phenotype as they expressed epithelial cell markers CD24, CK18, and marker for fibroblast S1004A. Importantly, the cell population also consistently expressed the markers of mammary stem cells (ITGB1 or CD29 and ITGA6 or CD49f), mesenchymal stem cells (CD73 and CD105) and pluripotency (NANOG, OCT4, SOX2). In addition to this, the cells were also positive for Estrogen Receptor (ER), and ER-activated marker Trefoil Factor 1, suggesting an estrogen responsiveness of the culture model. These results indicate that our cell culture model is a reliable model for acquiring a population of cells with mammary stem cell properties and that these cultures may also serve as a reservoir from which more purified populations of stem cell populations can be isolated in the future.

High carbohydrate as obese diet is not yet available commercially for monkeys. Therefore, this preliminary study was to carry out nutrient intake and digestibility of cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) fed with high soluble carbohydrate diet compared to monkey chow. Five adult female macaques (average body weight 2.67 kg) were made to consume freshly diet. Commercial monkey chows (contains 3500 cal/g energy and 35% starch) were fed to three adult females (average body weight 3.62 kg). Nutrient intakes and digestibility parameters were measured using modified metabolic cages. Result showed that average of protein, fat, starch, and energy intakes in treatment diet were higher than control diet (T-test). Fat intake in the treatment diet was three times higher, while starch and energy intakes were almost two times higher than monkey chow. Digestibility percentage of all nutrients were the same in both diets except for the protein. The study concludes that the freshly prepared high sugar diet was palatable and digestible for the cynomolgus monkeys. Further studies are in progress to develop obese diet high in energy content based on fat and source of starch treatments.