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- Title
Methylated CpG-Containing Plasmid Activates the Immune System.
- Authors
Cornélie, S.; Poulain-Godefroy, O.; Lund, C.; Vendeville, C.; Ban, E.; Capron, M.; Riveau, G.
- Abstract
Bacterial DNA differs from mammalian DNA by the presence of unmethylated cytosine–phosphate–guanosine (CpG) motifs. The immunostimulatory properties of a DNA vaccine have been suspected to be associated with these motifs. The aim of this study was to assess the inactivation of the immunostimulatory potential of a plasmid after methylation of its CpG motifs. We constructed two identical non-coding plasmids, and one of these was de novo methylated on its CG sequences. A single administration of recombinant antigen with methylated or unmethylated CpG-containing plasmid was performed in mice. As expected, only unmethylated CpG-containing plasmid enhanced the specific immune response. However, a study of in vivo activation of Langerhans' cells and analysis of mRNA synthesis indicated that both the plasmids promoted cell emigration and cytokine induction. These data highlight that a methylated CpG-containing plasmid is not inert and carries immunomodulatory properties. The results further emphasize the necessity to definitively identify the mode of action of plasmids used for DNA vaccination.
- Subjects
IMMUNE response; PLASMIDS; LANGERHANS cells; DNA vaccines; METHYLATION; MESSENGER RNA
- Publication
Scandinavian Journal of Immunology, 2004, Vol 59, Issue 2, p143
- ISSN
0300-9475
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.0300-9475.2004.01373.x