Abstract
Nonhuman primates from domestic sources constitute a small, but critical, proportion of animals studied in research laboratories. Many of these nonhuman primates are raised at one facility and subsequently transported/relocated to another facility for research purposes. We examined the effects of transport, relocation, and acclimation on the phenotype and function of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in a group of rhesus monkeys that were transported by road for approximately 21 hours from one facility to another. Using a panel of human antibodies and a set of standardized human immune assays, we evaluated the phenotype of lymphocyte subsets by flow, mitogen-specific immune responses of PBMCs in vitro, and levels of circulating cytokines and cortisol in plasma at various time points including immediately before transport, immediately upon arrival, and after approximately 30 days of acclimation. Analyses of blood samples revealed that CD3+ T-cell and CD20+ B-cell populations had decreased significantly immediately after relocation but had recovered within 30 days after arrival at the new facility. Similarly, circulating cortisol and cytokine levels in plasma were significantly higher immediately after relocation; and by the 30-day time point, these differences were no longer significant. However, immune assays of PBMCs indicated that mitogen-specific responses for proliferation, interferon γ (IFN-γ), and perforin were significantly higher after relocation and 30 days of acclimation. These findings have implications on the research participation of transported and relocated nonhuman primates in immunologic research studies, suggesting that 30 days is not sufficient to ensure return to baseline immune homeostasis. These data should be considered when planning research studies in order to minimize potential confounding factors associated with relocation and to maximize study validity.
Highlights
Nonhuman primates (NHPs) are important animal models for many types of scientific research, biomedical research, in the United States and abroad [1]
We observed a significant decline in the absolute numbers of CD3+ (T cells) and CD20+ (B cells) on the day of arrival compared with pre-transport levels
Analyses of the other lymphocyte subsets, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+CD8+, and CD16+, revealed no significant differences (Fig 1B). These analyses reveal that there were no major overall relocation-associated differences, significant differences exist for CD3+ (T cells) and CD20+ (B cells)
Summary
Nonhuman primates (NHPs) are important animal models for many types of scientific research, biomedical research, in the United States and abroad [1]. The domestic relocation process usually involves a combination of social and physical factors, such as separation, shipping, relocation, and resocialization, all of which can influence the physiological and behavioral responses of relocated NHPs. The effects of transportation in studies involving reproduction, behavior, and hematological parameters (including white blood cell counts, red blood cell counts, hemoglobin concentrations, hematocrit values, neutrophil: lymphocyte ratios, and serum cortisol concentrations) in cynomolgus monkeys were previously published [2,3,4]. The effects of transportation in studies involving reproduction, behavior, and hematological parameters (including white blood cell counts, red blood cell counts, hemoglobin concentrations, hematocrit values, neutrophil: lymphocyte ratios, and serum cortisol concentrations) in cynomolgus monkeys were previously published [2,3,4] Data from these studies can guide investigators when planning an acclimation period for studies involving these parameters. Studies to help investigators determine the timeframe needed for acclimation for immunologic studies are lacking
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