Method of reducing and treating UVB-induced immunosuppression

Abstract

Methods of preventing and/or treating UV-induced immunosuppression by administration of immune response modifier compounds are disclosed herein. Suitable immune response modifier compounds include agonists of one or more TLRs.

1 . A method of restoring at least a portion of diminished contact hypersensitivity, the method comprising administering to a subject at risk for diminished contact hypersensitivity an immune response modifier compound in an amount effective to restore at least a portion of the diminished contact hypersensitivity, 
 wherein the immune response modifier compound is selected from the group consisting of: an imidazoquinoline amine, an imidazopyridine amine, a 6,7-fused cycloalkylimidazopyridine amine, a 1,2-bridged imidazoquinoline amine, an imidazonaphthyridine amine, an imidazotetrahydronaphthyridine amine, an oxazoloquinoline amine, a thiazoloquinoline amine, an oxazolopyridine amine, a thiazolopyridine amine, an oxazolonaphthyridine amine, a thiazolonaphthyridine amine, and a CpG oligonucleotide.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein administration of the immune response modifier compound occurs prior to exposure of the subject to a dose of UV irradiation sufficient to diminish contact hypersensitivity.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the immune response modifier compound is an agonist of at least one Toll-like receptor (TLR).  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the immune response modifier compound is an agonist of TLR7, TLR8, or TLR9.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the immune response modifier compound is selected from the group consisting of: an imidazoquinoline amine, an imidazopyridine amine, a 6,7-fused cycloalkylimidazopyridine amine, a 1,2-bridged imidazoquinoline amine, an imidazonaphthyridine amine, an imidazotetrahydronaphthyridine amine, an oxazoloquinoline amine, a thiazoloquinoline amine, an oxazolopyridine amine, a thiazolopyridine amine, an oxazolonaphthyridine amine, and a thiazolonaphthyridine amine.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the immune response modifier compound is administered via a topical application vehicle.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the topical application vehicle comprises a cream, a gel, a spray, an ointment, a lotion, a solution, a suspension, an emulsion, a paste, a powder, or an oil.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the immune response modifier compound is administered via a sunscreen, a skin lotion, a skin moisturizer, a cosmetic, a soap, a spray, a foam, a gel, or a surfactant-containing cleaning preparation.