CpG DNA as a Th1 trigger

Over the last few years, it has been recognized that along with structural components and products of bacteria, bacterial DNA is also capable of signaling infectious danger to cells of the innate immune system. Particular DNA sequences (CpG motifs), which are abundant in prokaryotic (bacterial) but not in mammalian DNA, cause the activation and stimulation of immune cells. Research has been catalyzed by the finding that certain synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides mimic the action of bacterial DNA. Immunostimulation induced by bacterial DNA or synthetic oligonucleotides not only contributes to our knowledge of the pathogen-host interrelationship during infection, but can also be used therapeutically to condition or modify ongoing immune responses of the adaptive immune system. Accordingly, CpG motifs have been used as vaccine adjuvants as well as instructing agents to selectively induce Th1-dominated immune responses. Hence, CpG motifs might be used in the future as adjuvants and/or immunomodulatory agents to treat or prevent undesired Th2-dominated immune responses, such as allergy. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.