Characteristics of the tree shrew humoral immune system

Identification and characterization of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily in the Chinese tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis)

The tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily (TNFRSF) plays a vital role in eliciting immune responses against infections. The tree shrew, closely related to primates, is often utilized in human disease models. Here, we analyzed TNFRSF members from 11 different animal species, including the Chinese tree shrew, and identified 24 tree shrew TNFRSF (tTNFRSF) genes, which were grouped into seven subcategories with similar motifs, sequences, and gene structures. As expected, the multi-species collinearity analysis revealed that tTNFRSF genome bears a greater resemblance to humans than to mice. Transcriptome data from 28 samples across ten organ types showed high TNFRSF expression predominantly in immune organs. It was seen that TNFRSF13C co-expresses consistently with the B cell surface marker CD79A, which is consistent with its characteristics in humans. The tissue distribution and co-expression were confirmed via RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence. Evaluation of transcriptome data from 70 samples infected with six types of viruses showed that most TNFRSF genes were upregulated in tree shrew post-viral infection. TNFRSF exerts antiviral function most probably through the activation of the NF-κB pathway, subsequently causing apoptosis of infected cells. Our findings provide evolutionary and functional insights into tTNFRSF, indicating its potential utility in human viral infection models.

Analysis of the Interaction Between the Attenuated HSV-1 Strain M6 and Macrophages Indicates Its Potential as an Effective Vaccine Immunogen

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a very concerning pathogen due to its ability to persist in the host's nervous system and continuously interfere with the immune system, which complicates treatment. Therefore, the development of an effective HSV-1 vaccine is crucial. In this study, we focused on an HSV-1 mutant strain, M6, which includes several deleted genes associated with viral infection virulence and latent infection function, and explored its infection of macrophages and immunological characteristics. The study found that both the attenuated strain M6 and the wild-type strain infect macrophages through the binding of the gD protein to the HVEM receptor on the macrophage surface. Compared to the wild-type strain, the attenuated M6 strain induced a milder immune response, characterized by the lower expression of immune signaling molecules and inflammatory cytokine levels. Upon reintroducing macrophages infected with the two strains into mice, the M6 strain induced lower levels of inflammatory cytokines and higher levels of chemokines in spleen cells and also slightly lower humoral and cellular immune responses than the wild-type strain. Further histopathological analysis revealed that mice in the attenuated M6 group showed more stable body weight changes and milder pathological damage in immune organs such as the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes. In conclusion, the attenuated M6 strain exhibits good immunogenicity and mild pathological side effects, suggesting its potential as an effective immunogen.

Revealing the molecular landscape of calcium oxalate renal calculi utilizing a tree shrew model: a transcriptomic analysis of the kidney

Our comprehensive genomic investigation employing tree shrew calcium oxalate stone models unveils intricate links between kidney stone formation and diverse physiological systems. We identify a constellation of genes whose expression patterns point to multifaceted interactions among cardiovascular health, renal fibrosis, and bone homeostasis in the pathogenesis of renal calculi. Key players include CHIT1, TNFRSF18, CLEC4E, RGS1, DCSTAMP, and SLC37A2, which emerge as pivotal actors in arteriosclerosis, renal fibrosis, and osteoclastogenesis respectively, showcasing the complexity of stone disease. The downregulation of ADRA1D, LVRN, and ABCG8 underscores roles in urodynamics, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and vitamin D metabolism, linking these to nephrolithiasis. Comparative genomics across tree shrew, human (Randall's plaque), rat, and mouse identifies shared KEGG pathways including Calcium signaling, Actin cytoskeleton regulation, Neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions, Complement and coagulation cascades, TRP channel regulation by inflammatory mediators, p53 signaling, and Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis. These pathways underscore the interconnectedness of immune, inflammatory, and metabolic processes in stone development. Our findings suggest novel targets for future therapeutics and prevention strategies against nephrolithiasis, highlighting the need for a holistic view of the disease encompassing multiple pathogenic factors.

Models of Herpes Simplex Virus Latency

Our current understanding of HSV latency is based on a variety of clinical observations, and in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro model systems, each with unique advantages and drawbacks. The criteria for authentically modeling HSV latency include the ability to easily manipulate host genetics and biological pathways, as well as mimicking the immune response and viral pathogenesis in human infections. Although realistically modeling HSV latency is necessary when choosing a model, the cost, time requirement, ethical constraints, and reagent availability are also equally important. Presently, there remains a pressing need for in vivo models that more closely recapitulate human HSV infection. While the current in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro models used to study HSV latency have limitations, they provide further insights that add to our understanding of latency. In vivo models have shed light on natural infection routes and the interplay between the host immune response and the virus during latency, while in vitro models have been invaluable in elucidating molecular pathways involved in latency. Below, we review the relative advantages and disadvantages of current HSV models and highlight insights gained through each.

A novel tree shrew model of lipopolysaccharide-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome

INTRODUCTION

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a leading cause of respiratory failure, with substantial attributable morbidity and mortality. The small animal models that are currently used for ARDS do not fully manifest all of the pathological hallmarks of human patients, which hampers both the studies of disease mechanism and drug development.

OBJECTIVES

To examine whether the phenotypic changes of primate-like tree shrews in response to a one-hit lipopolysaccharides (LPS) injury resemble human ARDS features.

METHODS

LPS was administered to tree shrews through intratracheal instillation; then, the animals underwent CT or PET/CT imaging to examine the changes in the structure and function of the whole lung. The lung histology was analyzed by H&E staining and immunohistochemical staining of inflammatory cells.

RESULTS

Results demonstrated that tree shrews exhibited an average survival time of 3-5 days after LPS insult, as well as an obvious symptom of dyspnea before death. The ratios of PaO2 to FiO2 (P/F ratio) were close to those of moderate ARDS in humans. CT imaging showed that the scope of the lung injury in tree shrews after LPS treatment were extensive. PET/CT imaging with 18F-FDG displayed an obvious inflammatory infiltration. Histological analysis detected the formation of a hyaline membrane, which is usually present in human ARDS.

CONCLUSION

This study established a lung injury model with a primate-like small animal model and confirmed that they have similar features to human ARDS, which might provide a valuable tool for translational research.

Tree shrews as a new animal model for systemic sclerosis research

Objective

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic systemic disease characterized by immune dysregulation and fibrosis for which there is no effective treatment. Animal models are crucial for advancing SSc research. Tree shrews are genetically, anatomically, and immunologically closer to humans than rodents. Thus, the tree shrew model provides a unique opportunity for translational research in SSc.

Methods

In this study, a SSc tree shrew model was constructed by subcutaneous injection of different doses of bleomycin (BLM) for 21 days. We assessed the degree of inflammation and fibrosis in the skin and internal organs, and antibodies in serum. Furthermore, RNA sequencing and a series of bioinformatics analyses were performed to analyze the transcriptome changes, hub genes and immune infiltration in the skin tissues of BLM induced SSc tree shrew models. Multiple sequence alignment was utilized to analyze the conservation of selected target genes across multiple species.

Results

Subcutaneous injection of BLM successfully induced a SSc model in tree shrew. This model exhibited inflammation and fibrosis in skin and lung, and some developed esophageal fibrosis and secrum autoantibodies including antinuclear antibodies and anti-scleroderma-70 antibody. Using RNA sequencing, we compiled skin transcriptome profiles in SSc tree shrew models. 90 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, which were mainly enriched in the PPAR signaling pathway, tyrosine metabolic pathway, p53 signaling pathway, ECM receptor interaction and glutathione metabolism, all of which are closely associated with SSc. Immune infiltration analysis identified 20 different types of immune cells infiltrating the skin of the BLM-induced SSc tree shrew models and correlations between those immune cells. By constructing a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, we identified 10 hub genes that were significantly highly expressed in the skin of the SSc models compared to controls. Furthermore, these genes were confirmed to be highly conserved in tree shrews, humans and mice.

Conclusion

This study for the first time comfirmed that tree shrew model of SSc can be used as a novel and promising experimental animal model to study the pathogenesis and translational research in SSc.

The tree shrew as a new animal model for the study of periodontitis

AIM

Periodontitis is an inflammatory, infectious disease of polymicrobial origin that can damage tooth-supporting bone and tissue. Tree shrews, evolutionarily closer to humans than commonly used rodent models, have been increasingly used as biomedical models. However, a tree shrew periodontitis model has not yet been established.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Periodontitis was induced in male tree shrews/Sprague-Dawley rats by nylon thread ligature placement around the lower first molars. Thereafter, morphometric and histological analyses were performed. The distance from the cemento-enamel junction to the alveolar bone crest was measured using micro-computed tomography. Periodontal pathological tissue damage, inflammation and osteoclastogenesis were assessed using haematoxylin and eosin staining and quantitative immunohistochemistry, respectively.

RESULTS

Post-operatively, gingival swelling, redness and spontaneous bleeding were observed in tree shrews but not in rats. After peaking, bone resorption decreased gradually until plateauing in tree shrews. Contrastingly, rapid and near-complete bone loss was observed in rats. Inflammatory infiltrates were observed 1 week post operation in both models. However, only the tree shrew model transitioned from acute to chronic inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed that a ligature-induced tree shrew model of periodontitis partly reproduced the pathological features of human periodontitis and provided theoretical support for using tree shrews as a potential model for human periodontitis.

Characterization of the Immunologic Phenotype of Dendritic Cells Infected With Herpes Simplex Virus 1

Due to viral envelope glycoprotein D binding to cellular membrane HVEM receptor, HSV-1 can infect certain dendritic cells, which becomes an event in the viral strategy to interfere with the host’s immune system. We previously generated the HSV-1 mutant strain M6, which produced an attenuated phenotype in mice and rhesus monkeys. The attenuated M6 strain was used to investigate how HSV-1 infection of dendritic cells interferes with both innate and adaptive immunity. Our study showed that dendritic cells membrane HVEM receptors could mediate infection of the wild-type strain and attenuated M6 strain and that dendritic cells infected by both viruses in local tissues of animals exhibited changes in transcriptional profiles associated with innate immune and inflammatory responses. The infection of pDCs and cDCs by the two strains promoted cell differentiation to the CD103+ phenotype, but varied transcriptional profiles were observed, implying a strategy that the HSV-1 wild-type strain interferes with antiviral immunity, probably due to viral modification of the immunological phenotype of dendritic cells during processing and presentation of antigen to T cells, leading to a series of deviations in immune responses, ultimately generating the deficient immune phenotype observed in infected individuals in the clinical.

Anatomy and nomenclature of tree shrew lymphoid tissues

The immune response plays a key role in the disease development of the organism, while immune function serves as an important indicator for animal models evaluation. The tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis), as a new laboratory animal with a close genetic relationship with primates, has been used to construct various disease models. However, the immune system of tree shrews, especially anatomical descriptions of lymph nodes, is still relatively unknown. In this study, a total of 16 different lymph nodes were identified, including superficial lymph nodes and deep lymph nodes. Superficial lymph nodes were located in the head and neck region (submandibular lymph node, parotid lymph node, deep and superficial cervical lymph nodes) and at the forelimb (axillary and accessory axillary lymph nodes, subscapular lymph node) and hindlimb (popliteal, sciatic, and inguinal lymph nodes). Deep lymph nodes comprise mediastinal lymph nodes located in thoracic cavity and abdominal lymph nodes that are mainly located in each mesentery (mesenteric, gastric, pancreatic-duodenal, renal lymph nodes) or along the major vessels (iliac lymph nodes). In addition, we described the spleen and thymus of the tree shrew, as well as two lymphoid tissues in the top wall of the nasal cavity and the oropharynx. This study mainly describes the tree shrew immune system from an anatomical and histopathological perspective and provides fundamental research references for the establishment of various animal models of tree shrews.

N-Glycolylneuraminic Acid in Animal Models for Human Influenza A Virus

The first step in influenza virus infection is the binding of hemagglutinin to sialic acid-containing glycans present on the cell surface. Over 50 different sialic acid modifications are known, of which N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) and N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) are the two main species. Animal models with α2,6 linked Neu5Ac in the upper respiratory tract, similar to humans, are preferred to enable and mimic infection with unadapted human influenza A viruses. Animal models that are currently most often used to study human influenza are mice and ferrets. Additionally, guinea pigs, cotton rats, Syrian hamsters, tree shrews, domestic swine, and non-human primates (macaques and marmosets) are discussed. The presence of NeuGc and the distribution of sialic acid linkages in the most commonly used models is summarized and experimentally determined. We also evaluated the role of Neu5Gc in infection using Neu5Gc binding viruses and cytidine monophosphate-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (CMAH)-/- knockout mice, which lack Neu5Gc and concluded that Neu5Gc is unlikely to be a decoy receptor. This article provides a base for choosing an appropriate animal model. Although mice are one of the most favored models, they are hardly naturally susceptible to infection with human influenza viruses, possibly because they express mainly α2,3 linked sialic acids with both Neu5Ac and Neu5Gc modifications. We suggest using ferrets, which resemble humans closely in the sialic acid content, both in the linkages and the lack of Neu5Gc, lung organization, susceptibility, and disease pathogenesis.

The Tree Shrew as a Model for Cancer Research

Animal disease models are necessary in medical research, and an appropriate animal model is of great importance for studies about the prevention or treatment of cancer. The most important thing in the selection of animal models is to consider the similarity between animals and humans. The tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri) is a squirrel-like mammal which placed in the order Scandentia. Whole-genome sequencing has revealed that tree shrews are extremely similar to primate and humans than to rodents, with many highly conserved genes, which makes the data from studies that use tree shrews as models more convincing and the research outcomes more easily translatable. In tumor research, tree shrews are often used as animal models for hepatic and mammary cancers. As research has progressed, other types of tree shrew tumor models have been developed and exhibit clinical manifestations similar to those of humans. Combining the advantages of both rodents and primates, the tree shrew is expected to be the most powerful animal model for studying tumors.