Lymphocyte activation by CpG dinucleotide motifs in prokaryotic DNA.
CpG dinucleotides are present at the expected frequency in prokaryotic DNA, but are underrepresented ('CpG suppression') and methylated in vertebrate DNA. The vertebrate immune system has apparently evolved the ability to recognize these unmethylated CpG motifs and respond with a rapid and coordinated cytokine response leading to the induction of humoral and cell-mediated immunity.
Krieg
A M
AM
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City 52246, USA. arthur-krieg@uniowa.edu
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D015226:Dinucleoside Phosphates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D015226:Dinucleoside Phosphates; C015772:CpG dinucleotide