title: CpG DNA in the prevention and treatment of infections.
abstract: Microbial infection is sensed by Toll-like receptors (TLRs) on innate immune cells. Among the ten so far defined TLRs, TLR9 and its ligand are peculiar. TLR9 recognises bacterial DNA characterised by the abundance of unmethylated CpG dinucleotides, which distinguish bacterial DNA (CpG DNA) from mammalian DNA. Moreover, TLR9 shows a restricted cellular and subcellular pattern of expression. In contrast to other TLR agonists, CpG DNA is superior in activation of dendritic dells and induction of costimulatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-18. This qualifies CpG DNA as a Th1-promoting adjuvant. During infection, recognition of CpG DNA of intracellular pathogens skews and fine-tunes the ongoing immune response and induces long-lasting Th1 milieus. Thus, CpG DNA might play an important role in driving the immune system to a Th1 profile, preventing undesired Th2 milieus that might favour induction of allergic responses. Since CpG DNA can be synthesised with high purity and sequence fidelity, synthetic CpG DNA will become an important agent for Th1 instruction and be an effective adjuvant during vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dalpke
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heeg
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D018899:CpG Islands; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000819:agonists / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000819:agonists / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; C408982:CPG-oligonucleotide; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C495371:TLR9 protein, human; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9