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Planum parietale of chimpanzees and orangutans: a comparative resonance of human-like planum temporale asymmetry.

We have previously demonstrated that leftward asymmetry of the planum temporale (PT), a brain language area, was not unique to humans since a similar condition is present in great apes. Here we report on a related area in great apes, the planum parietale (PP). PP in humans has a rightward asymmetry with no correlation to the L>R PT, which indicates functional independence. The roles of the PT in human language are well known while PP is implicated in dyslexia and communication disorders. Since posterior bifurcation of the sylvian fissure (SF) is unique to humans and great apes, we used it to determine characteristics of its posterior ascending ramus, an indicator of the PP, in chimpanzee and orangutan brains. Results showed a human-like pattern of R>L PP (P = 0.04) in chimpanzees with a nonsignificant negative correlation of L>R PT vs. R>L PP (CC = -0.3; P = 0.39). In orangutans, SF anatomy is more variable, although PP was nonsignificantly R>L in three of four brains (P = 0.17). We have now demonstrated human-like hemispheric asymmetry of a second language-related brain area in great apes. Our findings persuasively support an argument for addition of a new component to the comparative neuroanatomic complex that defines brain language or polymodal communication areas. PP strengthens the evolutionary links that living great apes may offer to better understand the origins of these progressive parts of the brain. Evidence mounts for the stable expression of a neural foundation for language in species that we recently shared a common ancestor with.

Animals↗

Neurochemical organization of chimpanzee inferior pulvinar complex.

The pulvinar of primates, which connects with all visual areas, has been implicated in visual attention and in control of eye movements. Recently, five separate neurochemical subdivisions of a region termed the inferior pulvinar complex have been identified in monkeys (Gray et al. [1999] J Comp Neurol 409:452-468; Gutierrez et al. [1995] J Comp Neurol 363:545-562), and comparable subdivisions have been mapped in humans (Cola et al. [1999] NeuroReport 10:3733-3738). In the present study, we investigated the inferior pulvinar of the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), the closest evolutionary relative of humans, using cytochrome oxidase (CO) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) histochemistry, and immunocytochemistry for calbindin. Each staining method demarcated five histochemical zones corresponding, from medial to lateral, to the posterior (PI(P)), medial (PI(M)), central PI(C)), lateral (PI(L)), and the lateral-shell (PI(L-S)) divisions in monkeys. The PI(P) division stained darkly for calbindin and lightly for CO and AChE. The PI(M) division was characterized by less neuropil staining for calbindin, and by distinct, intensely stained patches of CO and AChE. PI(C) appeared lighter than adjacent divisions with CO and AChE histochemistry and was moderately stained with calbindin. PI(L) was moderately to darkly stained with each method and was adjoined by a lighter staining shell, PI(L-S). Thus, in the aspects of organization we examined, the inferior pulvinar of chimpanzees closely resembles that of humans and monkeys. This investigation provides a foundation for more detailed studies of the thalamic relationships of extrastriate cortex in apes and humans.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Parental and perinatal factors influencing the development of handedness in captive chimpanzees.

It has been proposed that human right handedness is determined by genetic factors associated with the emergence of language, whereas non-human primate handedness is determined by random, non-genetic factors. These different mechanisms account for differences in the distribution of handedness between human and non-human primates. Here we report evidence that genetic factors play a role in the determination of handedness in chimpanzees. We further report that differential rearing has no influence on the expression of handedness in related individuals. Contrary to many theories of the origin of handedness, these results indicate that genetic factors have a significant influence on handedness in chimpanzees.

Animals↗

Vocal perception: brain event-related potentials in a chimpanzee.

We describe the first brain event-related potential (ERP) study of cognitive processes in the chimpanzee. In an extension of our studies on the ontogeny of vocal perception, ERP measures were obtained during the presentation of simple nonsignal stimuli as well as conspecific and human vocalizations. We initially confirmed findings from humans and monkeys of the appearance of a long-latency positivity in the ERP waveform to a rare stimulus in an oddball paradigm. This ERP component is reminiscent of the P3a reported in humans under similar (passive) experimental conditions. We further demonstrated that both conspecific and human vocal stimuli having affective significance also enhanced late positive components of the ERP. These late positive components displayed a predominant fronto-central distribution, with a maxima at Cz. Additionally, responses to adaptively significant vocal stimuli showed a right hemisphere laterality, whereas no significant laterality was observed with the rare stimulus in the oddball paradigm. Results document the feasibility of ERP measures in chimpanzees and their potential utility in the study of the ontogeny and phylogeny of vocal perception.

Animals↗

Different proliferative response of human and chimpanzee lymphocytes after contact with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp120.

T cell functional defects are a common aspect of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Moreover, it has been suggested that indirect mechanisms are involved in CD4+ cell depletion. Unresponsiveness to proliferative stimuli of lymphocytes incubated with HIV particles or with viral proteins is well documented. Nevertheless, drawing a clear picture of the anergy phenomenon is difficult because of several unresolved and controversial questions. Here we report that recombinant gp120 induces anergy in T helper lymphocytes cultured with different stimuli. The proliferative responses to interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, anti-CD2, anti-CD3 and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate are inhibited. Moreover, anergic cells show a different distribution in cell cycle phases as compared to control cells, leading us to suggest that the progression in the cell cycle is hampered and that a pre-mitotic block takes place. Furthermore, since chimpanzees are susceptible to HIV-1 infection without showing immunodeficiency signs, we analyzed the proliferation of chimpanzee lymphocytes without observing anergy in cells preincubated with gp120. Taken together, these results support the hypothesis that anergy plays an important role in HIV infection in vivo.

Animals↗

Failure of immunocompetitive capillary electrophoresis assay to detect disease-specific prion protein in buffy coat from humans and chimpanzees with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

The emergence of a new environmentally caused variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), the result of food-born infection by the causative agent of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), has stimulated research on a practical diagnostic screening test. The immunocompetitive capillary electrophoresis (ICCE) assay has been reported to detect disease-specific, proteinase-resistant prion protein (PrPres) in the blood of scrapie-infected sheep. We have applied this method to blood from CJD-infected chimpanzees and humans. The threshold of detection achieved with our ICCE was 0.6 nM of synthetic peptide corresponding to the prion protein (PrP) C-terminus, and 2 nM of recombinant human PrP at the optimized conditions. However, the test was unable to distinguish between extracts of leucocytes from healthy and CJD-infected chimpanzees, and from healthy human donors and patients affected with various forms of CJD. Thus, the ICCE assay as presently performed is not suitable for use as a screening test in human transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs).

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Experimental HBV and delta infections of chimpanzees: occurrence and significance of intrahepatic immune complexes of HBcAg and delta antigen.

The occurrence and pathogenetic role of intrahepatic deposits of immunoglobulins in experimental viral infection have been evaluated by determining with immunofluorescence their capacity to fix complement in vitro [in vitro complement fixation (VCF)]. Liver biopsies from chimpanzees chronically or acutely infected with hepatitis B virus or the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-associated delta agent were used in the study. VCF was observed in each animal expressing hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) or delta antigen in the liver and concurrently circulating the homologous antibody in the blood. In acutely infected animals, VCF appeared at the same time that the homologous serum antibody appeared, and the intensity of VCF staining was proportional to the antibody titer in the serum. In animals expressing sequentially the HBcAg/antibody system and then delta antigen and antibody to delta, VCF was first observed in HBcAg-containing nuclei and then in nuclei expressing delta antigen. There was no relationship between VCF and intrahepatic expression of HBsAg or serologic expression of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg). A positive VCF reaction appears related to the formation of intrahepatic immune complexes between HBcAg or delta antigen and the homologous antibody. Although acute hepatitis developed in parallel with the occurrence of VCF in two animals, strong VCF fluorescence was also observed in each of the asymptomatic carriers of HBsAg, and, in one of them, preexisting VCF staining of HBcAg disappeared in parallel with development of acute hepatitis. In experimentally infected chimpanzees, the finding in liver biopsies of immune complexes detectable by VCF appears to be a common epiphenomenon without pathogenic significance.

Animals↗

In vitro replication and expression of hepatitis B virus from chronically infected primary chimpanzee hepatocytes.

Primary chimpanzee hepatocytes were maintained in vitro utilizing a serum-free medium. Hepatocyte functions were sustained throughout the culture period as demonstrated by the synthesis and secretion of liver-specific plasma proteins characteristic for differentiated hepatocytes. Hepatocyte cultures established from a chimpanzee chronically infected with human hepatitis B virus exhibited the synthesis and secretion of hepatitis B virus proteins into the medium. In addition, the de novo replication of hepatitis B virus was documented by the recovery of virus, exhibiting an endogenous DNA polymerase activity, from the tissue culture medium. Therefore, both the long-term maintenance of differentiated hepatocytes and the expression of hepatitis B virus from these primary cultures were sustained in the serum-free medium.

Animals↗

Three different patterns of hepatitis C virus infection in chimpanzees.

The relationship between hepatitis C virus RNA and hepatitis C virus-associated antibodies (antibody against the putative capsid protein and C-100 antibody) was determined by nested polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in serial serum samples obtained from eight chimpanzees experimentally infected with hepatitis C virus. Three different patterns emerged from the polymerase chain reaction data: the first (group 1) was acute resolving hepatitis with transient appearance of HCV RNA (two cases). The second (group 2) had chronic hepatitis with persistent hepatitis C virus RNA positivity (four cases) and the third (group 3) had chronic hepatitis with intermittent appearance of hepatitis C virus RNA (two cases). In four of eight animals, hepatitis C virus RNA was first detectable in serum 1 wk after inoculation. Although serum HCV RNA was detected in all infected chimpanzees, two were positive only for antibody against the putative capsid protein, whereas two were positive only for antibody to C-100 antigen. In four of eight cases, antibody against the putative capsid protein appeared earlier than did antibody to C-100 antigen, was detected just before or coincident with rising glutamate pyruvate transaminase values and remained positive for a long time even after recovery. Six of eight animals (75%) were still hepatitis C virus RNA positive 1 yr after inoculation, suggesting that the risk of development of the chronic carrier state is high in hepatitis C virus infection. Furthermore, there did not appear to be a good correlation between antibody titer in serum and hepatitis C virus infectivity titer.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Hepatitis C virus kinetics and host responses associated with disease and outcome of infection in chimpanzees.

To study determinants of clinical outcome following HCV infection, viral kinetics, immune events, and intrahepatic cytokine markers were compared in 10 naive chimpanzees. Four of the animals cleared HCV; 6 developed persistent infections. All animals developed similar acute infections with increasing viremia from 1 to 2 weeks, followed by alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevations and seroconversion. This viremia pattern consisted of a biphasic increase, a rapid slope (mean doubling time [t(2)] = 0.5 days) followed by a slower slope after the second week (t(2) = 7.5 days). This slowing of virus replication correlated in all animals with increased intrahepatic 2'5' oligoadenylate synthetase 1 (2OAS-1) messenger RNA (mRNA) levels and was independent of disease outcome. An effective control of virus replication was observed following increases in intrahepatic interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) mRNA and ALT levels. Although this control was associated in all animals with a 2-log decrease in virus titer, the timing occurred approximately 2 weeks later in the chronic group (P <.05). Additionally, while cleared infections were characterized by a continual decrease in virus titer, the titers in the persistent infections reached a steady state level of 10(4) to 10(5) RNA copies/mL. This inability of the immune response to sustain viral clearance in the persistent infections was associated with a reduced intrahepatic CD3e and monocyte-induced protein 1alpha (MIP-1alpha) mRNA induction. In conclusion, these data indicate that, regardless of outcome, chimpanzees generate responses that control HCV replication during the early and late acute phase. However, the pathogenesis of HCV may be determined by a more rapid onset of the induced response and the cell population that migrates to the liver.

Animals↗

Sustained E2 antibody response correlates with reduced peak viremia after hepatitis C virus infection in the chimpanzee.

Immune correlates of protection against hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are not well understood. Here we investigated 2 naive and 6 immunized chimpanzees before and after intravenous challenge, 12 weeks after the last immunization, with 100 50% chimpanzee infectious doses (CID(50)) of heterologous genotype 1b HCV. Vaccination with recombinant DNA and adenovirus vaccines expressing HCV core, E1E2, and NS3-5 genes induced long-term HCV-specific antibody and T-cell responses and reduced peak viral load about 100 times compared with controls (5.91 +/- 0.38 vs. 3.81 +/- 0.71 logs, respectively). There was a statistically significant inverse correlation between peak viral loads and envelope glycoprotein 2 (E2)-specific antibody responses at the time of challenge. Interestingly, one vaccinee that had sterilizing immunity against slightly heterologous virus generated the highest level of E2-specific total and neutralizing antibody responses as well as strong NS3/NS5-specific T-cell proliferative responses. The other four vaccinees with low levels of E2-specific antibody had about 44-fold reduced peak viral loads but eventually developed persistent infections. In conclusion, vaccine-induced E2-specific antibody plays an important role in prevention from nonhomologous virus infection and may provide new insight into the development of an effective HCV vaccine.

Animals↗

Characterization of viral genomes in the liver and serum of chimpanzee long-term hepatitis B virus carriers: a possible role for supercoiled HBV-DNA in persistent HBV infection.

In chimpanzee hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers, the molecular mechanism for viral persistence has been examined by analyzing the properties of viral DNA molecules in liver and serum. Two extrachromosomal HBV-DNA molecules migrating on Southern blots at 4.0 kb and 2.3 kb were observed in chimpanzee liver DNA. There was no evidence for integration of HBV sequences into the host genome. The HBV-DNA molecule which migrated at 4.0 kb position represents a full-length "nicked," relaxed circular form, and the DNA molecules migrating at 2.3 kb position represents a supercoiled form of the HBV genome. Evidence for supercoiled HBV-DNA in serum was obtained by production of the relaxed circular intermediate upon digestion of Dane particle DNA with specific nucleases S1 and Bal 31. A possible role of these two extrachromosomal HBV-DNA molecules in the biology of hepatitis B virus infection and the mechanism for viral persistence are discussed.

Animals↗

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for an antigen related to non-A, non-B hepatitis and its antibody: partial characterization of the antigen and chimpanzee transmission.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed based on sera from patients convalescent from non-A, non-B hepatitis and haemophilia A patients who had been frequently treated with commercial blood products. Using this ELISA, an antigen was detected which appears to be related to non-A, non-B hepatitis. The antigen is provisionally designated as DS-antigen (DS-Ag). The serum of another patient with haemophilia A, which was strongly positive for the DS-Ag, caused a typical case of non-A, non-B hepatitis in a chimpanzee. DS-Ag could be detected in the serum of the chimpanzee during the acute phase of the infection. The ELISA for DS-Ag reacted with neither hepatitis A or B virus antigens, nor Epstein-Barr virus or cytomegalovirus. The assay was provisionally evaluated using sera from different groups of patients. Out of 17 patients with posttransfusion hepatitis non-A, non-B, 11 were found positive in the ELISA for DS-Ag (65%). As expected, a relatively high prevalence of DS-Ag (9%) was found in patients with haemophilia, who are regularly treated with blood-clotting factor-concentrates. Antibodies to DS-Ag were found in 48% of these patients. The DS-Ag was found in 8 of 1400 (0.6%) volunteer blood donors, and antibody to DS-Ag in 3% of the sera. Remarkably, a high incidence (41%) of antibodies to DS-Ag was found in prostitutes, suggesting that this antigen may be transmitted by a sexual route. The DS-Ag was pelleted by ultracentrifugation for four hours at 100,000g and was found to have a buoyant density of 1.32 g/cm3 in a CsCl gradient.

Adult↗

Interference between non-A, non-B and hepatitis B virus infection in chimpanzees.

Pre-existing chronic or concurrent acute non-A, non-B (NANB) virus infection has been found to interfere with hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and to delay and moderate markedly the appearance of disease related to HBV infection in chimpanzees. The mechanism for this phenomenon remains unclear. These findings are of practical significance for vaccine safety testing and evaluation of methods for virus inactivation in chimpanzees. The possible occurrence of dual NANB and HBV infection requires that prolonged follow-up be carried out. Attempts to carry out inactivation studies on materials containing both types of virus may also provide misleading observations.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Effect of thymosin immunostimulation with and without corticosteroid immunosuppression on chimpanzee hepatitis B carriers.

Carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) are at a high personal risk of developing chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and primary hepatocellular carcinoma, and they pose a potential health threat to others. Accordingly, erradication of the carrier state is an important therapeutic goal. Several categories of drugs have been evaluated for this purpose, with, at best, limited success. The immune stimulants constitute a drug group considered to have potential benefit, since altered cell-mediated immunity (CMI) appears to have a pathogenic role in the perpetuation of the carrier state. One such immune stimulant is the thymic hormone, thymosin, which is known to enhance suppressor T-cell activity. We therefore examined its possible therapeutic role by evaluating its effect on four chronic HBsAg- and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chimpanzees. After baseline biochemical, serological, immunological, and histochemical studies were conducted, all four chimpanzees received parenteral thymosin for a period of 10-14 weeks; two of them were pretreated for 4 weeks with corticosteroids. All four were then reevaluated in the same manner at regular intervals during the 14-week period. Neither immunosuppression nor immunostimulation significantly affected biochemical, serological, or histological measures. Indices of CMI were altered, however: both T4 and T8 cells increased with thymosin treatment, although the T4/T8 ratio declined because of the relatively greater increase of the T8 than of the T4 cells. Thymosin did not affect the mitogen assays. Thus, while immunostimulation with thymosin did slightly alter CMI, it had no affect on the HBsAg carrier state or on measures of chronic hepatitis, even when preceded by corticosteroid immunosuppression.

Animals↗

Absence of perinatal transmission of blood-borne non-A, non-B hepatitis virus by chimpanzees with acute and chronic infection.

Two chimpanzees were born to parents with chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis and remained with their mothers until 12 and 18 months, respectively. The infants were followed from 7 to 8 weeks of age with biweekly or monthly blood samples and with monthly liver biopsies from 4 to 7 months after birth. Another chimpanzee, along with both of its parents, was held throughout the parents' acute infection with non-A, non-B hepatitis; at this time the infant was 14-16 months of age, and it was followed with bi-weekly blood samples and monthly biopsies from the time of potential exposure for 20 months. No abnormalities indicative of non-A, non-B hepatitis were detected in these animals. During the 29 to 35 months of follow-up, alanine aminotransferases and gamma glutamyl-transferases (GGPT) levels remained well within normal range for animals held in the same facility. Histologic and electron microscopic examination of liver tissue revealed no abnormalities.

Acute Disease↗

Further studies of 48-1 antigen in serial liver biopsies from chimpanzees infected with hepatitis delta virus.

The 48-1 antibody, initially reported to react specifically with non-A, non-B infected liver tissue, has been found to react also with liver specimens from chimpanzees infected with hepatitis delta virus (HDV). To clarify further the relation between HDV and appearance of the antigen reacting with the 48-1 antibody (48-1 Ag), immunoperoxidase studies were carried out on serial liver specimens from chimpanzees infected with HDV. Immunohistochemical and serological findings suggested that the appearance of 48-1 Ag paralleled that of HDV. Double immunoperoxidase staining revealed HDAg in the nucleus and 48-1 Ag in the cytoplasm of the same hepatocytes as well as in different hepatocytes separately. The course of appearance of microtubular aggregates paralleled that of 48-1 Ag. The present results suggested that expression of 48-1 Ag was related to infection with HDV, probably because expression of this antigen is induced from the host genome.

Animals↗

Temporal relationships of hepatitis C virus RNA and antibody responses following experimental infection of chimpanzees.

Liver enzyme levels, viral RNA, and the immune response against both structural and nonstructural hepatitis C virus (HCV) proteins have been studied in experimentally infected chimpanzees in order to further understand the natural history of HCV infection. An ELISA for measuring both IgG and IgM responses to core (c22), 33c (NS3), and c100 (NS4) was employed. The IgG response rates were 5/8 for core, and 8/8 for both 33c and c100. Utilizing this antigen combination, at least one antibody response is measureable at, or within 3 weeks of, the major ALT peak. Although no individual antibody response is universally associated with initial detection of seroconversion, the combination of all three recombinant proteins measures seroconversion an average of 54 days earlier than with c100 alone, in 6/8 of the animals. IgM responses were measureable in 5/8 of the chimpanzees, were of shorter duration, and usually arose concomitantly with IgG responses. IgM appears to be a good indicator of primary infection since neither boosting nor recrudescence of disease during the chronic phase of disease elicited a secondary IgM response. Viral RNA can be measured 4-7 days (average = 9 days) postinfection with the period preceding the ALT peak being characterized by several PCR positive segments interrupted by periods in which no viral RNA can be measured. Following the ALT peak, chronically infected animals with recurring ALT elevations are generally PCR positive with intercedent PCR negative periods. Those animals that appear to have biochemically resolved disease generally have PCR negative profiles, although they still may periodically exhibit PCR positive sera. This indicates that with the recent advent of new screening techniques, a more stringent definition of HCV resolution will be required.

Animals↗