抑制性寡脱氧核苷酸的生物学效应及研究进展

DNA对于机体免疫系统具有很多复杂的作用。存在于细菌DNA中的刺激性CpG基序能够促进机体免疫细胞分泌多种细胞因子,使机体产生偏向Th1方向的免疫应答,而抑制性寡脱氧核苷酸(oligodeoxynucleotide,ODN)可以选择性阻断刺激性CpG诱导的免疫激活作用。抑制性ODN按其结构不同大致分为三类,它可能通过影响细胞对CpG-S的结合及摄取、降低CpG-S特异性受体TLR9的表达发挥抑制作用。本综述主要介绍抑制性ODN的结构特征、作用机制和它在一些疾病中发挥的作用。     

一类潜在的新型佐剂--含CpG基序的寡核苷酸

DNA是生命的遗传物质,已是不可争论的事实,可是DNA作为信号分子的观点就不容易被理解.相继有文献报道了细菌DNA,而非脊椎动物DNA,具有免疫激活的效果[1-4].含有CpG基序的寡核苷酸(ODN)具有以下免疫效果:诱导B细胞增殖、分化,免疫球蛋白诱生和分泌,抗诱生的细胞凋亡[5,6];诱导单核细胞分泌IL-12以及其他的细胞因子[7,8];并且活化自然杀伤(NK)细胞的裂解活性和干扰素(IFN-γ)分泌[2,4,9-11].研究人员推测:针对CpG ODN所产生的迅速的免疫激活反应,可能是由于宿主识别微生物分子特异的结构模式,而唤醒了机体先天性的免疫保护机制.由于CpG ODN特异的免疫激活机制,引起了研究人员的极大兴趣,取得了许多新的研究进展,显示出CpG ODN作为一类新型的免疫佐剂的潜在可能性.     

CpG ODN 对破骨细胞分化调控作用的研究进展

CpG ODN(CpG oligodeoxynucleotides)是一类可模拟细菌DNA免疫活性效应的寡脱氧核苷酸,其生物学功能受自身结构特征影响。特定序列的CpG ODN可通过与破骨细胞前体、前破骨细胞、成骨细胞表面的TLR9结合,调节RANKL、M-CSF、TNF-a、IL-12、TREM-2等细胞因子的表达水平,促进或抑制破骨细胞的形成与分化。本文就CpG ODN对破骨细胞(osteoclast,OC)分化调控作用的研究进展加以综述。     

CpG寡核苷酸联合热固化瘤苗对肝癌细胞Hca-F荷瘤小鼠的免疫治疗研究

目的探讨CpG寡核苷酸(ODN)联合热固化瘤苗的抗肿瘤作用。方法剥取肿瘤．称重并计算抑瘤率;MTT法测免疫小鼠CTL、Mψ和CTL细胞的体外杀伤活性;ELISA法测免疫小鼠血清中IL-10、IL-12水平。结果联合使用CpG ODN和热固化瘤苗可以诱导荷瘤小鼠的抑瘤作用,其抑瘤率与单独使用瘤苗或CpG ODN比较差异有显著性;联合使用CpG ODN和热固化瘤苗可以提高荷瘤小鼠NK、Mψ和CTL细胞的体外杀伤活性,与单独使用瘤苗组相比较,差异具有显著性,但与单独使用CpG ODN组相比较,NK、Mψ细胞的体外杀伤活性差异无显著性;联合使用CpG ODN和热固化瘤苗可以提高荷瘤小鼠血清中IL-12水平并降低血清中IL-10水平,与二者单独使用组比较差异都具有显著性。结论联合使用CpG ODN和热固化瘤苗能显著提高机体的免疫功能,尤其是特异性细胞免疫功能。     

CpG ODN对破骨细胞分化调控作用的研究进展

CpG ODN（CpG oligodeoxynucleotides）是一类可模拟细菌DNA免疫活性效应的寡脱氧核苷酸,其生物学功能受自身结构特征影响。特定序列的CpG ODN可通过与破骨细胞前体、前破骨细胞、成骨细胞表面的TLR9结合,调节RANKL、M-CSF、TNF-α、IL-12、TREM-2等细胞因子的表达水平,促进或抑制破骨细胞的形成与分化。本文就CpG ODN对破骨细胞（osteoclast,OC）分化调控作用的研究进展加以综述。     

微生物未甲基化CpG DNA对动物肠道的免疫调节作用

摘要:微生物未甲基化CpG DNA为富含未甲基化胞嘧啶-鸟嘌呤二核苷酸的DNA片段,能够被动物肠道细胞Toll样受体家族中的TLＲ9 受体(Toll-like receptor 9,TLR9)特异性识别。未甲基化CpG DNA作为一种动物肠道免疫刺激因子,不仅能够直接调节肠道固有免疫应答,同时还能间接介导肠道适应性免疫应答。未甲基化CpG DNA具有调节机体免疫应答作用的应用前景,成为免疫佐剂开发的研究热点。本文主要综述微生物未甲基化CpG DNA基本概念、受体TLR9的特征、调节动物肠道免疫作用及其信号机制,同时阐述了未甲基化CpG DNA作为免疫佐剂在实际中的应用,最后对微生物未甲基化CpG DNA研究与开发利用前景进行了展望。     

CpG ODN B对鸡新城疫重组杆状病毒疫苗的免疫增强效应

目的:探究CpG ODN作为疫苗佐剂对鸡新城疫重组杆状病毒疫苗的免疫效果。方法:将CpG ODN B/P这2种类型的免疫佐剂分别与鸡新城疫重组杆状病毒载体疫苗BV-BXY-F混合后,以鼻腔免疫方式进行鸡体免疫,并进行攻毒保护实验,通过对鸡体的临床症状观察,以及检测免疫保护率、中和抗体水平、淋巴细胞增殖活性、细胞因子含量,分析各CpG ODN对鸡新城疫疫苗免疫效果的影响。结果:BV-BXY-F+CpG ODN B免疫组鸡在免疫后42 d中和抗体效价最高,免疫保护率100%,中和抗体效价,sIgA、IgG、IgA、IFN-γ、IL-2、IL-4、CD4+T细胞、CD8+T细胞含量较BV-BXY-F+CpG ODN P组分别提高了32.08%、8.44%、13.56%、23.71%、50.20%、132.97%、39.76%、38.43%、25.99%,且差异显著(P0.05),与单独免疫组BV-BXY-F相比分别提高了13.71%、89.39%、10.41%、21.26%、159.17%、52.71%、237.84%、80.51%、75.57%。结论:CpG ODN B对增强鸡新城疫重组杆状病毒疫苗的免疫增强效果最好。     

利用小鼠模型评价含有5‘—GTCGTT—3’特征序列的人CpG寡脱氧核苷酸的免疫刺激活性

为了寻找合适的动物模型来评价人CpG寡脱氧核苷酸（CpG－ODN）的活性,研究了CpG2006等含有5‘－GTCGTT－3‘特征序列的人CpG－ODN对小鼠的免疫刺激活性。在体外它们能够促进小鼠脾淋巴细胞转化,促进B细胞分泌IgM ,但不能诱生高水平的IFN－γ。研究了CpG2006等序列在体内作为疫苗佐剂对HBsAg免疫效果的影响,发现：（1）人CpG－ODN能够明显提高抗－HBs抗体水平,并逆转Al(OH)3对T 卤类免疫应答的抑制;(2)初免时以CpG2006为佐剂可以使免疫应答“销定”在Thl类免疫应答,而加强免疫时以CpG2006为佐剂可以在一定程度上逆转初免时Al（OH）3诱生的Th2类免疫应答;（3）CpG2006联合Al(OH)3作为佐剂的单剂量疫苗的免疫效果强于两剂量以Al(OH)3为佐剂的常规疫苗,上述结果表明：小鼠可以作为动物模型用于含有5‘－GTCGTT－3‘特征序列的人CpG－ODN免疫效果的研究。     

重组HBsAg疫苗辅以CpG ODN对转基因小鼠的免疫治疗效果

目的利用免疫耐受的乙型肝炎病毒(hepatitis B virus,HBV)转基因(Transgenic mice,Tg)小鼠模型,研究重组HBsAg疫苗辅以CpG ODN的免疫治疗效果,为HBV的临床免疫治疗提供思路和依据.方法重组HBsAg疫苗单独或辅以CpG ODN,同时设干扰素(IFN)药物组和生理盐水(NS)照组,多次免疫治疗HBV转基因小鼠,于免疫前和末次免疫后2周、4周眼球后静脉丛取血,动态观察各组小鼠血清中HBsAg量、HBsAg阴转率、Anti-HBs阳性率和HBVDNA拷贝数的变化.在治疗后应用HE染色观察各组小鼠肝组织病变活动度以及SP组化法观察活肝组织中HBsAg表达量的改变.结果在免疫治疗后2周,HBsAg疫苗组和HBsAg CpG组血清中的HBsAg量较免疫前和同期的IFN组、NS组均有明显降低(P＜0.05),并且到4周时降低作用依然很明显;免疫治疗后2周时两组100%出现Anti-HBs抗体;HBsAg CpG组治疗后2周血清HBsAg有1只转阴,4周时阴转数增加到3只.其他三组中均无阴转;免疫治疗后2周至4周HBsAg CpG组的小鼠HBV DNA的拷贝数可降低1～2个数量级,IFN组2周部分出现轻微降低但到4周时出现回升;HBsAg CpG组肝组织中HBsAg量的表达均出现不同程度的降低;病理学检测显示HBsAg CpG组肝组织中浸润大量淋巴细胞,可见恢复期的肝小叶.肝组织病变活动度情况为HBsAg CpG组＞HBsAg组＞IFN组、NS组.结论CpG ODN增强重组HBsAg疫苗对HBV转基因小鼠的免疫治疗效果.重组HBsAg疫苗辅以CpG ODN可作为临床上免疫治疗慢性HBV感染的可行性途经.     

免疫佐剂CpG DNA的研究进展

CpG DNA存在广泛的免疫效应,其免疫效应有赖于DNA中的模体,同时具有种属特异性和细胞特异性。CpG DNA的作用机制目前还不很清楚,但此方面的研究导致了许多新的发现,目前CpG DNA已有了多方面的应用。     

Effect of suppressive DNA on CpG-induced immune activation

Bacterial DNA and synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) containing unmethylated CpG motifs stimulate a strong innate immune response. This stimulation can be abrogated by either removing the CpG DNA or adding inhibitory/suppressive motifs. Suppression is dominant over stimulation and is specific for CpG-induced immune responses (having no effect on LPS- or Con A-induced activation). Individual cells noncompetitively internalize both stimulatory and suppressive ODN. Studies using ODN composed of both stimulatory and suppressive motifs indicate that sequence recognition proceeds in a 5'-->3' direction, and that a 5' motif can block recognition of immediately 3' sequences. These findings contribute to our understanding of the immunomodulatory activity of DNA-based products and the rules that govern immune recognition of stimulatory and suppressive motifs.     

Activation of RAW264.7 macrophages by bacterial DNA and lipopolysaccharide increases cell surface DNA binding and internalization

Bacterial DNA containing unmethylated CpG motifs is a pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) that interacts with host immune cells via a toll-like receptor (TLR) to induce immune responses. DNA binding and internalization into cells is independent of TLR expression, receptor-mediated, and required for cell activation. The objective of this study was to determine whether exposure of immune cells to bacterial DNA affects DNA binding and internalization. Treatment of RAW264.7 cells with CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) for both 18 and 42 h resulted in a significant increase in DNA binding, whereas non-CpG ODN had no effect on DNA binding. Enhanced DNA binding was non-sequence-specific, inhibited by unlabeled DNA, showed saturation, was consistent with increased cell surface DNA receptors, and resulted in enhanced internalization of DNA. Treatment with Escherichia coli DNA or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) also resulted in a significant increase in DNA binding, but treatment with interleukin-1alpha, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate had no effect on DNA binding. Soluble factors produced in response to treatment with CpG ODN or LPS did not affect DNA binding. These studies demonstrate that one consequence of activating the host innate immune response by bacterial infection is enhanced binding and internalization of DNA. During this period of increased DNA internalization, RAW264.7 cells were hypo-responsive to continued stimulation by CpG ODN, as assessed by tumor necrosis factor-alpha activity. We speculate the biological significance of increasing DNA binding and internalization following interaction with bacterial PAMPs may provide a mechanism to limit an ongoing immune inflammatory response by enhancing clearance of bacterial DNA from the extracellular environment.     

Cutting edge: species-specific TLR9-mediated recognition of CpG and non-CpG phosphorothioate-modified oligonucleotides

Different DNA motifs are required for optimal stimulation of mouse and human immune cells by CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN). These species differences presumably reflect sequence differences in TLR9, the CpG DNA receptor. In this study, we show that this sequence specificity is restricted to phosphorothioate (PS)-modified ODN and is not observed when a natural phosphodiester backbone is used. Thus, human and mouse cells have not evolved to recognize different CpG motifs in natural DNA. Nonoptimal PS-ODN (i.e., mouse CpG motif on human cells and vice versa) gave delayed and less sustained phosphorylation of p38 MAPK than optimal motifs. When the CpG dinucleotide was inverted to GC in each ODN, some residual activity of the PS-ODN was retained in a species-specific, TLR-9-dependent manner. Thus, TLR9 may be responsible for mediating many published CpG-independent responses to PS-ODN.     

Priming of immune responses to hepatitis B surface antigen in young mice immunized in the presence of maternally derived antibodies

Early vaccination is necessary to protect infants from various infectious diseases. However, this is often unsuccessful largely due to the immaturity of the neonatal immune system. Furthermore, maternally derived antibodies can interfere with active immunization. We have previously shown in young mice that immune responses against several different antigens can be improved by the addition of oligodeoxynucleotides containing immunostimulatory CpG motifs (CpG ODN). In this study we have evaluated immunization of newborn (1-7-day-old) BALB/c mice against hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), with alum and/or CpG ODN, in the presence of high levels of maternal antibody against HBsAg (anti-HBs). Seroconversion rates and anti-HBs titers were compared to those induced by a HBsAg-expressing plasmid, since other studies had suggested DNA vaccines to be superior to protein vaccines in young mice with maternal antibody. HBsAg/alum/CpG ODN was superior to DNA vaccine in inducing HBsAg-specific CTL responses in young mice in the presence of maternally transferred anti-HBs antibodies. However, B cell responses to both HBsAg/alum/CpG ODN and DNA vaccines remained weak in the presence of maternally transferred anti-HBs antibodies.     

Mechanisms and applications of immune stimulatory CpG oligodeoxynucleotides

Immune stimulation has been widely recognized as an undesirable side effect of certain antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) which can interfere with their therapeutic application. It is now clear that these dose-dependent immune stimulatory effects primarily result from the presence of an unmethylated CpG dinucleotide in particular base contexts ('CpG motif). The sequence-specific immune activation is not just an experimental artifact, but is actually a highly evolved immune defense mechanism whose actual 'goal' is the detection of microbial nucleic acids. In contrast to vertebrate DNA, in which CpG dinucleotides are 'suppressed' and are highly methylated, microbial genomes do not generally feature CpG suppression or methylation [1]. Immune effector cells such as B cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, and natural killer cells appear to have evolved pattern recognition receptors (PRR) that by binding the microbe-restricted structure of CpG motifs, trigger protective immune responses. Although the specific immune activation appears to have a variety of potential therapeutic applications, it is generally undesirable in antisense ODN. Immune stimulation may be avoided in antisense oligos by the selection of CpG-free target sequences, by the use of ODN backbones that do not support immune stimulation, or by selective modifications of the cytosine in any CpG dinucleotides.     

Delineation of a CpG phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide for activating primate immune responses in vitro and in vivo

Oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) containing unmethylated CpG dinucleotides within specific sequence contexts (CpG motifs) are detected, like bacterial or viral DNA, as a danger signal by the vertebrate immune system. CpG ODN synthesized with a nuclease-resistant phosphorothioate backbone have been shown to be potent Th1-directed adjuvants in mice, but these motifs have been relatively inactive on primate leukocytes in vitro. Moreover, in vitro assays that predict in vivo adjuvant activity for primates have not been reported. In the present study we tested a panel of CpG ODN for their in vitro and in vivo immune effects in mice and identified in vitro activation of B and NK cells as excellent predictors of in vivo adjuvant activity. Therefore, we tested >250 phosphorothioate ODN for their capacity to stimulate proliferation and CD86 expression of human B cells and to induce lytic activity and CD69 expression of human NK cells. These studies revealed that the sequence, number, and spacing of individual CpG motifs contribute to the immunostimulatory activity of a CpG phosphorothioate ODN. An ODN with a TpC dinucleotide at the 5' end followed by three 6 mer CpG motifs (5'-GTCGTT-3') separated by TpT dinucleotides consistently showed the highest activity for human, chimpanzee, and rhesus monkey leukocytes. Chimpanzees or monkeys vaccinated once against hepatitis B with this CpG ODN adjuvant developed 15 times higher anti-hepatitis B Ab titers than those receiving vaccine alone. In conclusion, we report an optimal human CpG motif for phosphorothioate ODN that is a candidate human vaccine adjuvant.     

Peritumoral CpG DNA elicits a coordinated response of CD8 T cells and innate effectors to cure established tumors in a murine colon carcinoma model

The immune system of vertebrates is able to detect bacterial DNA based on the presence of unmethylated CpG motifs. We examined the therapeutic potential of oligodeoxynucleotides with CpG motifs (CpG ODN) in a colon carcinoma model in BALB/c mice. Tumors were induced by s.c. injection of syngeneic C26 cells or Renca kidney cancer cells as a control. Injection of CpG ODN alone or in combination with irradiated tumor cells did not protect mice against subsequent tumor challenge. In contrast, weekly injections of CpG ODN into the margin of already established tumors resulted in regression of tumors and complete cure of mice. The injection site was critical, since injection of CpG ODN at distant sites was not effective. Mice with two bilateral C26 tumors rejected both tumors upon peritumoral injection of one tumor, indicating the development of a systemic immune response. The tumor specificity of the immune response was demonstrated in mice bearing a C26 tumor and a Renca tumor at the same time. Mice that rejected a tumor upon peritumoral CpG treatment remained tumor free and were protected against rechallenge with the same tumor cells, but not with the other tumor, demonstrating long term memory. Tumor-specific CD8 T cells as well as innate effector cells contributed to the antitumor activity of treatment. In conclusion, peritumoral CpG ODN monotherapy elicits a strong CD8 T cell response and innate effector mechanisms that seem to act in concert to overcome unresponsiveness of the immune system toward a growing tumor.