Characteristics of oligodeoxynucleotides containing CpG motifs: their influence on immune system cells and the possibilities of their application in medicine and veterinary medicine

摘要

DNA Bacterial genomes contain many more unmethylated CpG (cytosine-phosphodiester-guanine) dinucleotides than those of vertebrates. This difference in the genome structure allows the innate immune system of vertebrates to distinguish bacterial DNA from self-DNA. Synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides that contain CpG motifs (CpG ODNs) can mimic bacterial DNA and consequently induce various types and levels of immune responses. Synthetic ODNs CpG stimulates the innate immune system, activates non-specific I anti-microbial defense systems, and sensitizes antigen-presenting cells to mount both antibody and cell-mediated immunity against specific antigens. A better understanding of CpG recognition at the molecular level is fundamental to subsequent immunological response which would allow the optimization and application of CpG motifs as therapeutic agents and adjuvants for numerous diseases. it is to be hoped that CpG ODN treatment of animals could also provide a cost-effective alternative to antibiotics by increasing resistance to disease-causative pathogens.