University of California

Other

Dynavax Technologies Corporation

Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center

Eyal Raz

Dennis A Carson

Mark Roman

Daniel Rachmilewitz

Dino Dina

Richard Syd Kornbluth

Kenji Takabayashi

Douglas Richman

Hiroko Kobayashi

Tomoko Hayashi

Jongdae Lee

Kyoko Katakura

Meredith L Howell

Augusto Lois

Antonio Catanzaro

Anthony A Horner

Hearn Jay Cho

The invention consists of oligonucleotides which inhibit the immunostimulatory activity of ISS-ODN (immunostimulatory sequence oligodeoxynucleotides) as well as methods for their identification and use. The oligonucleotides of the invention are useful in controlling therapeutically intended ISS-ODN adjuvant activity as well as undesired ISS-ODN activity exerted by recombinant expression vectors, such as those used for gene therapy and gene immunization. The oligonucleotides of the invention also have anti-inflammatory activity useful in reducing inflammation in response to infection of a host with ISS-ODN containing microbes, in controlling autoimmune disease and in boosting host Th2 type immune responses to an antigen. The invention also encompasses pharmaceutically useful conjugates of the oligonucleotides of the invention (including conjugate partners such as antigens and antibodies).

Use of inhibitory oligonucleotides to treat autoimmune disease

The present invention provides methods of treating gastrointestinal inflammation, methods of treating inflammatory bowel disease, methods of treating Crohn's Disease, and methods of treating ulcerative colitis in an individual. The methods generally involve administering an effective amount of an agent that increases the level of a Type I interferon and/or that activates a Type I interferon signaling pathway in the individual.

Methods of treating gastrointestinal inflammation

The invention provides a method for ameliorating gastrointestinal inflammation, particularly chronic gastrointestinal inflammation such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), in a subject. In one embodiment, the method comprises administering an immunomodulatory nucleic acid to a subject suffering from or susceptible to gastrointestinal inflammation.

Method for treating inflammatory bowel disease and other forms of gastrointestinal inflammation

Immunostimulatory polynucleotide-immunomodulatory molecule conjugate compositions are disclosed. These compositions include a polynucleotide that is linked to an immunomodulatory molecule, which molecule comprises an antigen and may further comprise immunomodulators such as cytokines and adjuvants. The polynucleotide portion of the conjugate includes at least one immunostimulatory oligonucleotide nucleotide sequence (ISS). Methods of modulating an immune response upon administration of the polynucleotide-immunomodulatory conjugate preparation to a vertebrate host are also disclosed.

Immunostimulatory polynucleotide/immunomodulatory molecule conjugates

The invention is directed to a method for treating both the early and late phases of allergic asthma by introducing naked polynucleotides which operatively encode for the asthma-initiating antigen into the host. The antigen-encoding polynucleotides are administered to host tissues which contain a high concentration of antigen presenting cells (e.g., skin and mucosa) relative to other host tissues. Expression of the asthma-initiating antigen encoding polynucleotides of the invention inside of antigen presenting cells (without substantial secretion therefrom) induces antigen tolerance while suppressing IgE antibody formation in the early phase of the disease, and also suppresses cytokine-mediated eosinophil accumulation in the late phase of the disease. Devices and compositions for use in the methods of the invention are also described.

Method for treating allergic lung disease

The present invention provides methods for modulating cell death in a eukaryotic cell, and methods for reducing DNA damage in a eukaryotic cell. The methods generally comprise modulating a biological activity of DNA-PK in a cell. The invention further provides methods of treating a condition related to cell death in an individual. The invention further provides methods of identifying agents which modulate a biological activity of DNA-PK, as well as agents identified by the methods. Methods of modulating an immune response using an identified agent are also provided.

Agents that modulate DNA-PK activity and methods of use thereof

The invention relates to immunostimulatory oligonucleotide compositions. These oligonucleotides comprise an immunostimulatory octanucleotide sequence. These oligonucleotides can be administered in conjunction with an immunostimulatory peptide or antigen. Methods for modulating an immune response upon administration of the oligonucleotide are also disclosed. In addition, an in vitro screening method to identify oligonucleotides with immunostimulatory activity is provided.

Immunostimulatory oligonucleotides, compositions thereof and methods of use thereof

The present invention features methods for treatment or prevention of infection by intracellular pathogens (e.g., Mycobacterium species) by administration of an immunomodulatory nucleic acid molecule. In one embodiment, immunomodulatory nucleic acid molecule are administered in combination with another anti-pathogenic agent to provide a synergistic anti-pathogenic effect.

Immunomodulatory polynucleotides in treatment of an infection by an intracellular pathogen

The invention provides methods for T helper-independent activation of an antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte response in an individual. The methods generally involve administering to an individual an immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecule in an amount effective to increase an antigen-specific CTL response in the individual. The invention further provides methods for increasing chemokine secretion, which can block HIV infection.

Methods for increasing a cytotoxic T lymphocyte response in vivo

Disclosed is a method for enhancing an immune response to a substance, such as an antigen or microbial pathogen. The immune response can be, for example, production of IgG2 antibodies. The method comprises administering an immunostimulatory nucleotide sequence (ISS) to a subject at least one hour prior to exposure to the substance by the subject. The subject may be exposed to the substance either naturally, as with an environmental pathogen, or by administration, as with a known antigen. The method can be used for protecting or immunizing a subject against an antigen or pathogen, providing more effective immunization than if the ISS were co-administered with the substance. The method can be used prophylactically or therapeutically. In preferred embodiments, the ISS comprises a CG, p(GC) or p(IC) DNA or RNA nucleotide sequence. Of these, a CG containing nucleotide sequence is preferred. The ISS can further comprise a pG nucleotide sequence. Examples of an ISS include sequences comprising 5&prime;-rrcgyy-3&prime;, 5&prime;-rycgyy-3&prime;, 5&prime;-rrcgyycg-3&prime; or 5&prime;-rycgyycg-3&prime;. The ISS is preferably administered between about 6 hours and about 6 weeks prior to exposure to the substance, and more preferably between about 1 day and about 4 weeks prior. Most preferably, the ISS is administered between about 3 days and about 8 days prior to exposure to the substance. The ISS can be administered via a mucosal or systemic route. The substance can be an antigen or pathogen associated with an infectious disease, an allergen or a cancer.

Method for enhancing an immune response

The invention relates to methods for preventing or reducing antigen-stimulated, granulocyte-mediated inflammation in tissue of an antigen-sensitized mammal host by delivering an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide to the host. In addition, methods for using the immunostimulatory oligonucleotides to boost a mammal host's immune responsiveness to a sensitizing antigen (without immunization of the host by the antigen) and shifting the host's immune responsiveness to a Th1 phenotype to achieve various therapeutic ends are provided. Kits for practicing the methods of the invention are also provided.

Immunization-free methods for treating antigen-stimulated inflammation in a mammalian host and shifting the host's antigen immune responsiveness to a Th1 phenotype

Inhibitors of DNA immunostimulatory sequence activity

This invention relates to apparatus and compositions for administering antigens and immunostimulatory peptides to a mammalian host by the introduction of one or more naked polynucleotides to operatively encode for the antigens and immunostimulatory peptides, preferably by non-invasive means.

Growing community of inventors

Del Mar, CA, United States of America

Eyal Raz