A putative CEA moiety is shared by the cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) and humans.
CEA-like molecules immunologically distinct from those in humans have been described in non-human primates. These primates do not share the human predilection for colitis and subsequent development of colorectal cancer. CEA expression has not been fully evaluated in a lower-order primate, the cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus), an animal model for colitis and colorectal cancer. We found increased levels of CEA in both colonic washings and tissues of these animals using a commercially available kit, CEA AIA-PACK (Tosoh Medics, Foster City, CA). In contrast, we observed that other CEA kits failed to detect CEA in tamarins. To elucidate the nature of the CEA-like protein detected, we used the two component monoclonal antibodies used in the CEA AIA-PACK kit, and identified the reactive molecules by Western blotting. A band of approximately M(r) 50,000 was found to be common to samples from both humans and the tamarins. Minimal binding was observed with NCA antibody. We conclude that a CEA-like molecule shared by humans and tamarins may play a role in the pathogenesis of colitis and cancer in both species.
Tobi
M
M
Department of Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI.
Memon
M
M
Kithier
K
K
Clapp
N
N
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008970:Molecular Weight; D012452:Saguinus / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen