Discovery of novel biomarkers associated with myocardial fibrosis in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)
Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2026
Jarvis Martin R., Baiker K., Moittié S., Dobbs P., White K., Liptovszky M., Grant M.
| Disease area | Application area | Sample type | Products |
|---|---|---|---|
CVD | Patient Stratification | Ape Serum |  Olink Target 96 |
Abstract
Background
Idiopathic myocardial fibrosis (IMF) is a prevalent and life-threatening condition in captive chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes ). Ante-mortem diagnosis remains challenging due to the limitations of current veterinary diagnostics. This study aimed to identify and validate circulating serum protein biomarkers for the detection of IMF.
Methods
Serum samples collected from zoo-housed chimpanzees with post-mortem confirmed cardiac phenotypes were utilized. An initial discovery phase using a Proximity Extension Assay (PEA) screened 92 cardiovascular proteins in a subset of 10 chimpanzees. Three candidate biomarkers (ICAM-2, AXL, and PECAM-1) were subsequently selected for Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) validation in a broader cohort ( N = 25). Final biomarker efficacy was assessed alongside Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.
Results
In the discovery phase, ICAM-2, AXL, and PECAM-1 were significantly elevated in IMF-affected animals. During ELISA validation, circulating ICAM-2 remained significantly elevated in the IMF cohort ( p = 0.010, Cohen’s d = 0.91). No significant association was detected with subject age or the time interval between sampling and death. AXL and PECAM-1 did not reach statistical significance in the validation cohort. ROC analysis for ICAM-2 established an optimal diagnostic cut-off of >1.535 ng/mL (AUC = 0.672), which demonstrated 100% specificity and a 100% positive predictive value.
Conclusion
ICAM-2 is a highly specific, putative “rule-in” biomarker for moderate-to-severe IMF in chimpanzees. Implementing this biomarker into routine health assessments could enhance the early, non-invasive detection and clinical management of cardiovascular disease in this endangered species, though further validation is required before wider clinical use.