Marmosets as translational models for aging research Corinna N. Ross, PhD
Aging Research Basic Science Translational Clinical
Marmosets NHP models allow control of environment, diet, and medicines Small (350-450 g) Rapidly reproducing Relatively short lifespan and development Reach adult size ~2 years Average lifespan ~6 years in captive colonies Oldest marmoset ~22 years
Longevity (Ross & Salmon 2018)
(Ross 2018) (Ross et al 2017)
Causes of Death (Tardif et al, 2011)
Characterizing Marmoset Aging 5 domains Metabolic Homeostatic Immune Mobility Cognition
Metabolic Aging Lose weight at an increasing rate above middle age (Power et al 2001, Tardif et al 2011) Aging associated with decreased fat mass (longitudinal follow) (Ross et al 2012) Response to a glucose challenge is not significantly different for geriatric marmosets Geriatric marmosets have significantly reduced VO 2 compared to young animals
Homeostatic Aging Geriatric marmosets have significantly higher diastolic and mean arterial pressure
Geriatric marmosets have significantly less diverse gut microbiome Homeostatic Aging
Immune Aging Serum albumin concentrations decrease with age (Ross et al 2012) Older animals express increased inflammatory states
Translational Phenotyping from mouse & human to marmoset
Mobility Transition Groom Mark Display Leap Hang Geriatric marmosets have significantly reduced movement, but retain normal social behaviors Hanging (stretching) behavior is significantly associated with risk of death in next 6 months
Mobility
Cognition Tasks to assess visual learning, spatial learning, impulse control, and executive function Photo: Georgia Tech
Marmoset Conveyor
Marmoset Conveyor
Frequency of Retrieval Marmoset Conveyor 0.9 0.8 0.7 * * 0.6 0.5 0.4 Old Young 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 first mid last first mid last Treat Decoy Subjects :39 Older 8+ years, n = 21 Young <8, n= 18 (Alex Greig)
Detoured Reach (Khira Wharford)
#of successful trials Detoured Reach 25 20 15 10 Young Geriatric 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13-5 session (Jessica Adams)
Intervention testing - Rapamycin mice (Harrison et al 2009 Nature)
Marmoset Rapamycin Pilot study: 14 months Marmosets aged 7 9 yrs Rapa - 4 male/female pairs Control 2 male/female pairs Marmosets trained to receive oral daily doses of rapamycin Serum rapamycin values similar to those published for rodent and human studies (Tardif et al 2014)
Marmosets receiving rapa do not exhibit significantly altered glucose metabolism (Ross et al 2015)
Longitudinal follow - No significant detriment in glucose metabolism with 12 months treatment Hba1c Oral GTT Fasting insulin 9 280 5 260 8 240 4 Hba1c (%Hb) 7 6 5 blood glucose (mg/dl) 220 200 180 160 140 insulin [ng/ml] 3 2 4 120 100 CONTROL RAPA 1 3 CONTROL RAPA 80 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 Time after glucose 0 RAPA CONTROL Salmon, Unpublished Cohort 1 Males and females
Rapamycin Conclusions Rapamycin is having no negative impacts on metabolic function in marmosets There are currently no significant differences between rapamycin and control animals for Activity Locomotion Metabolic function Continue to follow the progress
Marmoset Aging We are able to quantify more than just longevity We are able to use techniques from mice and humans to examine marmoset aging behaviors We are able to begin testing interventions that may increase health-span
SNPRC Dr. Suzette Tardif Donna Layne-Colon Acknowledgements UT Health San Antonio Dr. Adam Salmon Dr. Kelly Reveles Dr. Arlan Richardson Dr. Veronica Galvan Dr. Steven Austad Aubrey Sills Joselyn Artavia Trinity University Dr. Kimberley Phillips A&M San Antonio Dr. Dawn Weatherford Dr. Alan Daniels Many many undergrads Funding NIH/NIA Claude D Pepper Center San Antonio Southwest National Primate Center Pilot Funding Biology of Aging NRSA Training Fellowship KL2 Pepper Center Scholar