Immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecules

Abstract

Nucleic acids containing unmethylated CpG dinucleotides and therapeutic utilities based on their ability to stimulate an immune response and to redirect a Th2 response to a Th1 response in a subject are disclosed. Methods for treating atopic diseases, including atopic dermatitis, are disclosed.

1 . A method of treating an allergic response to an antigen or allergy related disorder during antigen specific immunotherapy of a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of a first composition comprising a 5′CpG3′ immunostimulatory oligonucleotide that inhibits the allergic response in the subject and a second composition comprising an antigen wherein the first and second compositions are administered in an amount sufficient to modulate the immune response to the antigen, wherein the immunostimulatory oligonucleotide comprises 5′ X 1 X 2 CGX 3 X 4  3′, wherein C and G are unmethylated, X 1 , X 2 , X 3 , and X 4  are nucleotides and wherein the immunostimulatory oligonucleotide is 8 to 100 nucleotides in length and at least one internucleotide linkage is a phosphorothioate linkage. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the oligonucleotide is associated with a nucleic acid delivery complex. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the nucleic acid delivery complex is a cationic lipid. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the 5′CpG3′ is flanked by two 5′ purines and two 3′ pyrimidines. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the oligonucleotide is 8-40 nucleotides in length. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the oligonucleotide includes at least two unmethylated cytosine-guanine motifs. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein X 3  and X 4  are T.