Several Animal Species (several + animal_species)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Expression of CD8, identifies a distinct subset of effector memory CD4+ T lymphocytes

IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 2 2006
Iole Macchia
Summary Circulating CD4+ CD8+ T lymphocytes have been described in the peripheral blood of humans and several animal species. However, the origin and functional properties of these cells remain poorly understood. In the present study, we evaluated the frequency, phenotype and function of peripheral CD4+ CD8+ T cells in rhesus macaques. Two distinct populations of CD4+ CD8+ T cells were identified: the dominant one was CD4hi CD8lo and expressed the CD8,, homodimer, while the minor population was CD4lo CD8hi and expressed the CD8,, heterodimer. The majority of CD4hi CD8,lo T cells exhibited an activated effector/memory phenotype (CCR5lo CD7, CD28, HLA-DR+) and expressed relatively high levels of granzyme B. Intracellular cytokine staining assays demonstrated that the frequency of cytomegalovirus-specific T cells was enriched five-fold in CD4hi CD8,lo T cells compared to single-positive CD4+ T cells, whereas no consistent enrichment was observed for simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-specific T cells. Cross-sectional studies of SIV-infected animals demonstrated that the frequency of CD4hi CD8,lo T cells was lower in wild-type SIV-infected animals compared to uninfected controls, although prospective studies of SIV-infected animals demonstrated depletion of CD4hi CD8,lo lymphocytes only in a subset of animals. Taken together, these data suggest that CD4+ T cells expressing CD8, represent an effector/memory subset of CD4+ T cells and that this cell population can be depleted during the course of SIV infection. [source]


Analysis of Forensic SNPs in the Canine mtDNA HV1 Mutational Hotspot Region,

JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 6 2008
Danielle T. Baute M.S.
Abstract:, A 60 bp sequence variation hotspot in the canine mitochondrial DNA hypervariable region 1 was evaluated for its use in forensic investigations. Nineteen haplotypes containing 18 single nucleotide polymorphisms were observed among laboratory-generated and GenBank-derived domestic dog sequences representing five regional localities in the U.S. Samples from the different localities were highly variable with the levels of intra-population variability being similar among the populations studied. AMOVA further confirmed that there was no significant genetic structuring of the populations. Assays using these haplotypes were robust, canid specific and portend a rapid method for correctly excluding individual dogs as noncontributors of forensic evidence. Species-specificity of the primers was confirmed by means of in-tube polymerase chain reaction of human and cat DNA and in-silico assessment of the genomes of several animal species. Breed-specific fragments were not detected among the common haplotypes but there is evidence that this assay may be capable of differentiating domestic dog, wolf, and coyote sequences. [source]


Variation of the melanocortin 1 receptor gene in the macaques

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 8 2008
Kazuhiro Nakayama
Abstract Melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), a G-coupled seven-transmembrane receptor protein, plays a key role in the regulation of melanin synthesis in mammals. Sequence variation of the MC1R gene (MC1R) has been associated with pigmentation phenotypes in humans and in several animal species. The macaques (genus Macaca) are known to show a marked inter-specific variation in coat color although the causative genetic variation remains unclear. We investigated nucleotide sequences of the MC1R in 67 individuals of 18 macaque species with different coat color phenotypes including black and agouti. Twenty-eight amino acid replacements were identified in the macaques, but none of these amino acid replacements could explain the black coat color of Macaca silenus and the Sulawesi macaque species. Our molecular evolutionary analysis has revealed that nonsynonymous substitution/synonymous substitution (dN/dS) ratio of the MC1R has not been uniform in the macaque groups and, moreover, their coat color and dN/dS ratio were not related. These results suggest that the MC1R is unlikely to be responsible for the coat color variation of the macaques and functions of MC1R other than pigmentation might be associated with the different selective pressures on the MC1R in macaques. Am. J. Primatol. 70:778,785, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Preclinical pharmacokinetics and metabolism of 6-(4-(2,5-difluorophenyl)oxazol-5-yl)-3-isopropyl-[1,2,4]-triazolo[4,3- a]pyridine, a novel and selective p38, inhibitor: identification of an active metabolite in preclinical species and human liver microsomes

BIOPHARMACEUTICS AND DRUG DISPOSITION, Issue 8 2006
Amit S. Kalgutkar
Abstract The disposition of 6-(4-(2,5-difluorophenyl)oxazol-5-yl)-3-isopropyl-[1,2,4]-triazolo[4,3- a]pyridine (1), a potent and selective inhibitor of mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase p38,, was characterized in several animal species in support of its selection for preclinical safety studies and potential clinical development. 1 demonstrated generally favorable pharmacokinetic properties in all species examined. Following intravenous (i.v.) administration, 1 exhibited low volumes of distribution at steady state (Vdss) ranging from 0.4,1.3 l/kg (2.4,26 l/m2) in the rat, dog and monkey. Systemic plasma clearance was low in cynomolgus monkeys (6.00 ml/min/kg, 72.0 ml/min/m2) and Sprague-Dawley rats (7.65±1.08 ml/min/kg, 45.9±6.48 ml/min/m2 in male rats and 3.15±0.27 ml/min/kg, 18.9±1.62 ml/min/m2 in female rats) and moderate in beagle dogs (12.3±5.1 ml/min/kg, 246±102 ml/min/m2) resulting in plasma half-lives ranging from 1 to 5 h in preclinical species. Moderate to high bioavailability of 1 was observed in rats (30,65%), dogs (87%) and monkeys (40%) after oral (p.o.) dosing consistent with the in vitro absorption profile of 1 in the Caco-2 permeability assay. In rats, the oral pharmacokinetics were dose dependent over the dose range studied (5, 50 and 100 mg/kg). The principal route of clearance of 1 in rat, dog, monkey and human liver microsomes and in vivo in preclinical species involved oxidative metabolism mediated by cytochrome P450 enzymes. The major metabolic fate of 1 in preclinical species and humans involved hydroxylation on the isopropyl group to yield the tertiary alcohol metabolite 2. In human liver microsomes, this transformation was catalysed by CYP3A4 as judged from reaction phenotyping analysis using isozyme-specific inhibitors and recombinant CYP enzymes. Metabolite 2 was also shown to possess inhibitory potency against p38, in a variety of in vitro assays. 1 as well as the active metabolite 2 were moderately to highly bound to plasma proteins (fu,0.1,0.33) in rat, mouse, dog, monkey and human. 1 as well as the active metabolite 2 did not exhibit competitive inhibition of the five major cytochrome P450 enzymes namely CYP1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6 and 3A4 (IC50>50 µM). Overall, these results indicate that the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) profile of 1 is relatively consistent across preclinical species and predict potentially favorable pharmacokinetic properties in humans, supporting its selection for toxicity/safety assessment studies and possible investigations in humans as an anti-inflammatory agent. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]