1. Academic Validation
  2. CpG-containing synthetic oligonucleotides promote B and cytotoxic T cell responses to protein antigen: a new class of vaccine adjuvants

CpG-containing synthetic oligonucleotides promote B and cytotoxic T cell responses to protein antigen: a new class of vaccine adjuvants

  • Eur J Immunol. 1997 Sep;27(9):2340-4. doi: 10.1002/eji.1830270931.
G B Lipford 1 M Bauer C Blank R Reiter H Wagner K Heeg
Affiliations

Affiliation

  • 1 Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich, Germany. tbl01bl@sunmail.lrz-muenchen.de
Abstract

Foreign DNA has been shown to impinge on immune cell function by an as yet unidentified mechanism. We and Others have demonstrated that single-stranded (ss) DNA containing the motif CpG flanked by two 5' purines and two 3' pyrimidines are mitogenic for B cells and activate macrophages to release tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, interleukin (IL)-6 or IL-12. Because of these pro-inflammatory responses we investigated if ssDNA would serve as a potential vaccine Adjuvant. Here we show that CpG-containing Oligonucleotides represent a powerful Adjuvant for both humoral and cellular immune responses. When ssDNA was incorporated into inocula, specific antibody titers of the IgG2 isotype were enhanced by greater than 100-fold. Primary cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses generated to either unprocessed protein antigen or major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted peptide were exceedingly strong. Evidence is also provided that oligomers directly influenced T cell receptor-triggered T cell proliferation. Thus ssDNA oligomers may serve as inexpensive and safe vaccine adjuvants and, in addition, differential effects due to sequence may allow for directed responses.

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