The effects of DNA containing CpG motif on dendritic cells
Behboudi S., Chao D., Klenerman P., Austyn J.
SummaryDendritic cells (DC) are specialized antigen‐presenting cells. DC can acquire and process antigens in the periphery before maturing and migrating to secondary lymphoid tissues where they present the antigens and deliver co‐stimulatory signals to T cells. We describe an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide containing a CpG motif that stimulated murine DC to up‐regulate co‐stimulatory molecules, induce T‐cell proliferative responses and secrete interleukin‐12 in vitro. Administration of this oligonucleotide, but not of a control oligonucleotide lacking this motif, to mice led to the disappearance of DC from the marginal zone and T‐cell areas of spleen, but not from heart or kidney. The same CpG did not cause maturation of monocyte‐derived human DC in vitro, but lipopolysaccharide‐treated monocyte‐derived DC showed enhanced functional activity and up‐regulated co‐stimulatory molecules.