Gastrointestinal tract antigenic profile of cotton-top tamarin, Saguinus oedipus, is similar to that of humans with inflammatory bowel disease.

As an animal model for human inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer, the cotton-top tamarin remains controversial. Demonstration of antigenic similarity to the human would enhance its validity. Using colonic extracts and washings, we compared binding of seven monoclonal antibodies reactive with bowel and cancer antigens in both tamarins and humans with inflammatory bowel disease. Additionally, telomerase activity was tested for. Expression of a mucin antigen specific to human cancer was increased in tamarin colonic washings as well as aminoproteoglycans and EGFR in tamarin extracts, as compared to those of humans with inflammatory bowel disease (P < 0.005). An adenoma-associated antigen and k-ras p21 protein were negative in the tamarin. A trend to greater telomerase activity exists in tamarins. The antigenic similarity validates this model for human inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. A trend to increased telomerase activity in tamarins is consistent with the greater predisposition to cancer in these animals.