title: T cell immunostimulation by methyl inosine 5'-monophosphate: application to infectious diseases.
abstract: Methyl inosine 5'-monophosphate (MIMP) was designed and synthesized in an endeavor to generate compounds with immunostimulatory activity based on the precedent of purines, particularly inosine playing a central role in the development and function of the immune system. This review will summarize the immune-enhancing effects of MIMP on a variety of immunological responses both in vitro and in vivo. Among these studies, MIMP displays protective effects in several in vivo models of infectious disease following administration by one of several routes including oral. Furthermore, MIMP enhanced responses to Hepatitis B and influenza vaccines. Vaccination represents an extremely powerful tool for combating a variety of diseases, perhaps even cancer. However, to date, vaccines have been limited by their inability to produce cell-mediated responses and by the low immunogenicity of soluble/subunit antigens. In addition, there are difficulties in eliciting sufficient responses in immunocompromised individuals, which includes the elderly, due to the natural immunosenescence that occurs with aging. The data described here suggest that MIMP could be used to overcome some of these limitations. The application of MIMP as an adjuvant to the influenza vaccine, focusing on the elderly, at-risk populations will be discussed in more detail; however, several other bacterial and viral vaccine and/or disease targets merit further consideration.
authors.affiliation: Immuno-Rx, Inc., 1 Bioscience Park Drive, Farmingdale, NY 11735, USA.
authors.forename: Kathy L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Signorelli
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hadden
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007291:Inosine Monophosphate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007291:Inosine Monophosphate; C076557:methyl inosine monophosphate