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Published on: February 12, 2018
Molecular ABO phenotyping in cynomolgus macaques using real-time quantitative PCR
A Premasuthan1, J Ng, S Kanthaswamy
1Molecular Anthropology Laboratory, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Tissue Antigens
|August 7, 2012
Summary
A new real-time PCR method simplifies ABO blood group phenotyping in macaques for research. This rapid screening tool aids transplantation and stem cell studies by accurately identifying A, B, and AB phenotypes without fresh samples.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Science
- Immunology
- Genetics
Background:
- Macaques are vital animal models in biomedical research, particularly for human disease studies.
- ABO blood group phenotyping is critical for successful transplantation and stem cell research in both humans and macaques.
- Conventional serological methods for ABO phenotyping are often time-consuming, yield ambiguous results, or require unsuitable samples.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel, rapid method for detecting A, B, and AB phenotypes in macaques.
- To screen the distribution of A, B, and AB phenotypes in captive cynomolgus macaques.
- To compare macaque ABO phenotype distribution with that of rhesus macaques.
Main Methods:
- Development of a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay for macaque ABO phenotyping.
- Screening of captive cynomolgus macaque populations for A, B, and AB blood group phenotypes.
- Genotypic analysis to investigate the absence of O phenotype and potential expression mechanisms.
Main Results:
- A novel, rapid qPCR method was successfully established for simple and accurate macaque ABO phenotyping.
- The distribution of A, B, and AB phenotypes in cynomolgus macaques closely resembles that of rhesus macaques, with Blood group B predominating.
- A high probability of major ABO incompatibility (41%) was identified in cynomolgus macaques due to the predominance of Blood group B.
- No silencing mutations in exons 6 or 7 were found, suggesting alternative mechanisms for the rare O phenotype or A/B transferase expression.
Conclusions:
- The developed qPCR method offers a significant advancement for ABO blood group screening in macaques.
- The findings provide crucial data on macaque ABO phenotype distribution, essential for optimizing xenotransplantation and research protocols.
- Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms behind the rare O phenotype and potential expression of A and B transferases in macaques.
