Abstract
Synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) expressing non-methylated "CpG motifs" patterned after those present in bacterial DNA have characteristic immunomodulatory effects. CpG DNA is recognized as a pathogen-associated molecular pattern, and triggers a rapid innate immune response. CpG ODN are being harnessed for a variety of therapeutic uses, including as immune adjuvants, for cancer therapy, as anti-allergens, and as immunoprotective agents. The signal transduction pathway mediated by the engagement of CpG DNA with Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) is shared with other members of the TLR family. Recent studies demonstrate that formation and maturation of CpG DNA-containing endosomes are regulated by phosphatidylinositol 3 kinases and the Ras-associated GTP-binding protein, Rab5, which are essential for the initiation of TLR9-mediated signaling.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 17-22 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Seminars in Immunology |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 2004 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- CpG DNA
- PAMP
- Signal transduction
- TLR 9