Beyond danger: unmethylated CpG dinucleotides and the immunopathogenesis of disease

Oligonucleotide sequences containing unmethylated cytidine phosphate guanosine (CpG) motifs are known to have significant immunostimulatory properties. Because of these immunostimulatory effects, unmethylated CpG oligonucleotides are thought to act as ‘danger signals’ that produce a favorable immune...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Immunology letters 2000-07, Vol.73 (1), p.13-18
Main Authors: Goldberg, Billi, Urnovitz, Howard B, Stricker, Raphael B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alu
Alu Elements - immunology
Animals
Bacterial Infections - immunology
CpG
CpG Islands - immunology
cytidine phosphate guanosine
Dinucleotide Repeats - immunology
dinucleotides
DNA Methylation
DNA, Bacterial - immunology
DNA, Viral - immunology
Gulf War Syndrome
HIV
Humans
Immune System Diseases - etiology
Immune System Diseases - microbiology
Methylation
Neoplasm Metastasis - immunology
Oligonucleotides - chemistry
Oligonucleotides - immunology
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Summary:Oligonucleotide sequences containing unmethylated cytidine phosphate guanosine (CpG) motifs are known to have significant immunostimulatory properties. Because of these immunostimulatory effects, unmethylated CpG oligonucleotides are thought to act as ‘danger signals’ that produce a favorable immune response by alerting the host to the presence of invading organisms or abnormal cells. In contrast to this concept, we review the evidence that unmethylated CpG sequences derived either from microbial agents or from endogenous CpG-rich Alu motifs promote disease progression by inducing an aberrant or autoreactive immune response. Recognition of the negative effect of unmethylated CpG dinucleotides should lead to more effective immune strategies to combat infectious, inflammatory, autoimmune and malignant diseases.
ISSN:0165-2478
1879-0542
DOI:10.1016/S0165-2478(00)00191-7