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Abstract
Bilirubin is a tetrapyrrolic compound originating from heme catabolism. Although originally considered only a potentially dangerous waste product, it has become increasingly evident that this molecule represents an important modulator of various biological functions in the human body. Bilirubin appears to have versatile functions, from cell signaling (behaving almost like a "real" hormonal substance), modulation of metabolism, to immune regulation, affecting biological activities with apparent clinical and even therapeutic consequences. These activities may be the reason for the lower incidence of diseases of civilisation (cardiovascular diseases, arterial hypertension, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, certain cancers, autoimmune, and neurodegenerative diseases) observed in individuals with a chronic mild unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia, a typical sign of Gilbert's syndrome. While higher serum concentrations of unconjugated bilirubin may serve as an important protective factor against these diseases, low levels of bilirubin are associated with the opposite effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Libor Vítek
- Faculty General Hospital and 1(st) Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
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2
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Abstract
While non-human primate studies have long been conducted in laboratories, and more recently at zoological parks, sanctuaries are increasingly considered a viable setting for research. Accredited sanctuaries in non-range countries house thousands of primates formerly used as subjects of medical research, trained performers or personal pets. In range countries, however, sanctuaries typically house orphaned primates confiscated from illegal poaching and the bushmeat and pet trafficking trades. Although the primary mission of these sanctuaries is to rescue and rehabilitate residents, many of these organizations are increasingly willing to participate in non-invasive research. Notably, from a scientific standpoint, most sanctuaries provide potential advantages over traditional settings, such as large, naturalistic physical and social environments which may result in more relevant models of primates' free-ranging wild counterparts than other captive settings. As a result, an impressive scope of research in the fields of primate behaviour, cognition, veterinary science, genetics and physiology have been studied in sanctuaries. In this review, we examine the range and form of research that has been conducted at accredited sanctuaries around the world. We also describe the potential challenges of sanctuary-based work and the considerations that external researchers may face when deciding to collaborate with primate sanctuaries on their research projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen R Ross
- Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 North Clark St., Chicago, IL 60614, USA
| | - Jesse G Leinwand
- Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 North Clark St., Chicago, IL 60614, USA
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3
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Abstract
During the course of evolution the human brain has increased in size and complexity, ultimately these differences are the result of changes at the genetic level. Identifying and characterizing molecular evolution requires an understanding of both the genetic underpinning of the system as well as the comparative genetic tools to identify signatures of selection. This chapter aims to describe our current understanding of the genetics of human brain evolution. Primarily this is the story of the evolution of the human brain since our last common ape ancestor, but where relevant we will also discuss changes that are unique to the primate brain (compared to other mammals) or various other lineages in the evolution of humans more generally. It will focus on genetic changes that both directly affected the development and function of the brain as well as those that have indirectly influenced brain evolution through both prenatal and postnatal environment. This review is not meant to be exhaustive, but rather to begin to construct a general framework for understanding the full array of data being generated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J Vallender
- University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States; Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, United States.
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4
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Abstract
Unique among animals as they evolved towards Homo sapiens, hominins progressively cooked their food on a routine basis. Cooked products are characterized by singular chemical compounds, derived from the pervasive Maillard reaction. This same reaction is omnipresent in normal metabolism involving carbonyls and amines, and its products accumulate with age. The gut microbiota acts as a first line of defence against the toxicity of cooked Maillard compounds, that also selectively shape the microbial flora, letting specific metabolites to reach the blood stream. Positive selection of metabolic functions allowed the body of hominins who tamed fire to use and dispose of these age-related compounds. I propose here that, as a hopeful accidental consequence, this resulted in extending human lifespan far beyond that of our great ape cousins. The limited data exploring the role of taming fire on the human genetic setup and on its microbiota is discussed in relation with ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Danchin
- Integromics, Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, 47 Boulevard de l'Hôpital, Paris, 75013, France.,School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Hong Kong University, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
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5
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Noureen A, Ronke C, Khalifa M, Halbwax M, Fischer A, André C, Atencia R, Garriga R, Mugisha L, Ceglarek U, Thiery J, Utermann G, Schmidt K. Significant differentiation in the apolipoprotein(a)/lipoprotein(a) trait between chimpanzees from Western and Central Africa. Am J Primatol 2017; 79. [PMID: 28671714 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Revised: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 06/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Elevated Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) plasma concentrations are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in humans, largely controlled by the LPA gene encoding apolipoprotein(a) (apo(a)). Lp(a) is composed of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and apo(a) and restricted to Catarrhini. A variable number of kringle IV (KIV) domains in LPA lead to a size polymorphism of apo(a) that is inversely correlated with Lp(a) concentrations. Smaller apo(a) isoforms and higher Lp(a) levels in central chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes [PTT]) compared to humans from Europe had been reported. We studied apo(a) isoforms and Lp(a) concentrations in 75 western (Pan troglodytes verus [PTV]) and 112 central chimpanzees, and 12 bonobos (Pan paniscus [PPA]), all wild born and living in sanctuaries in Sierra Leone, Republic of the Congo, and DR Congo, respectively, and 116 humans from Gabon. Lp(a) levels were severalfold higher in western than in central chimpanzees (181.0 ± 6.7 mg/dl vs. 56.5 ± 4.3 mg/dl), whereas bonobos showed intermediate levels (134.8 ± 33.4 mg/dl). Apo(a) isoform sizes differed significantly between subspecies (means 20.9 ± 2.2, 22.9 ± 4.4, and 23.8 ± 3.8 KIV repeats in PTV, PTT, and PPA, respectively). However, far higher isoform-associated Lp(a) concentrations for all isoform sizes in western chimpanzees offered the main explanation for the higher overall Lp(a) levels in this subspecies. Human Lp(a) concentrations (mean 47.9 ± 2.8 mg/dl) were similar to those in central chimpanzees despite larger isoforms (mean 27.1 ± 4.9 KIV). Lp(a) and LDL, apoB-100, and total cholesterol levels only correlated in PTV. This remarkable differentiation between chimpanzees from different African habitats and the trait's similarity in humans and chimpanzees from Central Africa poses the question of a possible impact of an environmental factor that has shaped the genetic architecture of LPA. Overall, studies on the cholesterol-containing particles of Lp(a) and LDL in chimpanzees should consider differentiation between subspecies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asma Noureen
- Division of Genetic Epidemiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.,Division of Human Genetics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Claudius Ronke
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mahmoud Khalifa
- Division of Genetic Epidemiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.,Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Michel Halbwax
- International Center of Medical Research of Franceville (CIRMF), Franceville, Gabon
| | - Anne Fischer
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Claudine André
- Lola Ya Bonobo Sanctuary, "Petites Chutes de la Lukaya", Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Rebeca Atencia
- Réserve Naturelle Sanctuaire à Chimpanzés de Tchimpounga, Jane Goodall Institute, Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo
| | - Rosa Garriga
- Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Lawrence Mugisha
- Conservation & Ecosystem Health Alliance (CEHA), Kampala, Uganda.,College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Uta Ceglarek
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Joachim Thiery
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Gerd Utermann
- Division of Human Genetics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Konrad Schmidt
- Division of Genetic Epidemiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.,Division of Human Genetics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.,Department for Tropical Medicine, Eberhard-Karls-University, Tuebingen, Germany.,Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Lambaréné, Gabon
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