title: Responses of human B cells to DNA and phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides.
abstract: Emerging information has documented that certain DNA and sODNs can be both immunogenic and immunostimulatory. sODNs, but not DNA, induce T-cell-independent polyclonal activation of human B cells by engaging cell-surface receptors. Manifestations of sODN-induced human B-cell activation include expression of activation markers, proliferation, Ig production and anti-DNA antibody production. IL-2 and intact T cells enhanced B-cell responses to sODNs but were not required. Monocytes also provided a modest enhancement of human B-cell responses induced by sODNs. The chemical nature of sODNs capable of stimulating human B cells and the specific cell-surface receptors involved have not been completely delineated. Further studies will be necessary to elucidate the potential role of stimulatory sODNs in disease pathogenesis and to develop a means to employ ODNs as therapeutic agents in humans.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas 75235-8884, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Lipsky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D017553:Phosphorus Compounds; D013873:Thionucleotides / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D017553:Phosphorus Compounds; D013873:Thionucleotides; D004247:DNA