Use of Nonhuman Primates in Periodontal Disease Research: Contribution of the Caribbean Primate Research Center and Cayo Santiago Rhesus Colony

This review article provides a historical summary regarding the use, value, and validity of the nonhuman primate model of periodontal disease. The information provided cites results regarding the features of naturally occurring periodontitis in various nonhuman primate species, as well as the implementation of a model of experimental periodontitis. Clinical similarities to human disease are discussed, as well as the use of these models to document physiological and pathophysiological tissue changes in the periodontium related to the initiation and progression of the disease. Additionally, the use of these analytics in examination of the tissue characteristics of the disease, and the utility of nonhuman primates in testing and describing various therapeutic modalities are described. As periodontitis represents a disease of an oral microbiome dysbiosis, features of the altered microbiome in the disease in nonhuman primates are related to similar findings in the human condition. The review then provides a summary of the features of local and systemic host responses to a periodontal infection in an array of nonhuman primate species. This includes attributes of innate immunity, acute and chronic inflammation, and adaptive immune responses. Finally, extensive information is presented regarding the role of Macaca mulatta derived from the Cayo Santiago community in evaluating critical biologic details of disease initiation, progression, and resolution. This unique resource afforded the capacity to relate risk and expression of disease and traits of the responses to age, sex, and matriline derivation (e.g., heritability) of the animals. The Cayo Santiago colony continues to provide a critical preclinical model for assessment of molecular aspects of the disease process that can lead to both new targets for therapeutics and consideration of vaccine approaches to preventing and/or treating this global disease.