Analysis of T lymphocyte subsets in tamarins with colitis and colon cancer.

The cotton-top tamarin, Saguinus oedipus, serves as an animal model for the study of human colon cancer. This New World monkey has a high incidence of colitis and colon cancer that develops spontaneously. Evidence suggests that these diseases may be the result of a virally induced immunodeficiency. We have shown that T4+/T8+ cell ratios are significantly altered in tamarins with acute colitis and colon cancers. The T4+/T8+ ratios were 1.50 +/- 0.09, 0.70 +/- 0.05, and 0.48 +/- 0.05 for negative controls, acute colitis, and cancer positive tamarins, respectively. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference (p less than or equal to .0005) between negative controls vs. acute colitis and cancer positive groups.