WO2003015816A1 - Preparations d'oligonucleotides immunomodulateurs et leurs procedes d'utilisation - Google Patents

Preparations d'oligonucleotides immunomodulateurs et leurs procedes d'utilisation Download PDF

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WO2003015816A1
WO2003015816A1 PCT/US2001/025364 US0125364W WO03015816A1 WO 2003015816 A1 WO2003015816 A1 WO 2003015816A1 US 0125364 W US0125364 W US 0125364W WO 03015816 A1 WO03015816 A1 WO 03015816A1
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Prior art keywords
microcarrier
oligonucleotide
complex
imp
antigen
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PCT/US2001/025364
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English (en)
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Gary Van Nest
Stephen Tuck
Karen L. Fearon
Dino Dina
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Dynavax Technologies Corporation
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Priority claimed from US09/927,422 external-priority patent/US7250403B2/en
Priority claimed from US09/927,884 external-priority patent/US7183111B2/en
Application filed by Dynavax Technologies Corporation filed Critical Dynavax Technologies Corporation
Priority to JP2003520774A priority Critical patent/JP2005510462A/ja
Priority to AU2001281267A priority patent/AU2001281267B2/en
Priority to CA002456201A priority patent/CA2456201A1/fr
Priority to EP01959743A priority patent/EP1414490A1/fr
Publication of WO2003015816A1 publication Critical patent/WO2003015816A1/fr

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K39/39—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characterised by the immunostimulating additives, e.g. chemical adjuvants
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
    • A61K9/14—Particulate form, e.g. powders, Processes for size reducing of pure drugs or the resulting products, Pure drug nanoparticles
    • A61K9/16—Agglomerates; Granulates; Microbeadlets ; Microspheres; Pellets; Solid products obtained by spray drying, spray freeze drying, spray congealing,(multiple) emulsion solvent evaporation or extraction
    • A61K9/1605—Excipients; Inactive ingredients
    • A61K9/1629—Organic macromolecular compounds
    • A61K9/1641—Organic macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyethylene glycol, poloxamers
    • A61K9/1647—Polyesters, e.g. poly(lactide-co-glycolide)
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P31/00—Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
    • A61P31/12—Antivirals
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P37/00—Drugs for immunological or allergic disorders
    • A61P37/08—Antiallergic agents
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N15/00—Mutation or genetic engineering; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification; Use of hosts therefor
    • C12N15/09—Recombinant DNA-technology
    • C12N15/11—DNA or RNA fragments; Modified forms thereof; Non-coding nucleic acids having a biological activity
    • C12N15/117—Nucleic acids having immunomodulatory properties, e.g. containing CpG-motifs
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K2039/555—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characterised by a specific combination antigen/adjuvant
    • A61K2039/55511—Organic adjuvants
    • A61K2039/55555—Liposomes; Vesicles, e.g. nanoparticles; Spheres, e.g. nanospheres; Polymers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K2039/555—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characterised by a specific combination antigen/adjuvant
    • A61K2039/55511—Organic adjuvants
    • A61K2039/55561—CpG containing adjuvants; Oligonucleotide containing adjuvants
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
    • A61K9/14—Particulate form, e.g. powders, Processes for size reducing of pure drugs or the resulting products, Pure drug nanoparticles
    • A61K9/16—Agglomerates; Granulates; Microbeadlets ; Microspheres; Pellets; Solid products obtained by spray drying, spray freeze drying, spray congealing,(multiple) emulsion solvent evaporation or extraction
    • A61K9/1605—Excipients; Inactive ingredients
    • A61K9/1617—Organic compounds, e.g. phospholipids, fats
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
    • A61K9/14—Particulate form, e.g. powders, Processes for size reducing of pure drugs or the resulting products, Pure drug nanoparticles
    • A61K9/16—Agglomerates; Granulates; Microbeadlets ; Microspheres; Pellets; Solid products obtained by spray drying, spray freeze drying, spray congealing,(multiple) emulsion solvent evaporation or extraction
    • A61K9/167—Agglomerates; Granulates; Microbeadlets ; Microspheres; Pellets; Solid products obtained by spray drying, spray freeze drying, spray congealing,(multiple) emulsion solvent evaporation or extraction with an outer layer or coating comprising drug; with chemically bound drugs or non-active substances on their surface
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2310/00—Structure or type of the nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/10—Type of nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/17—Immunomodulatory nucleic acids
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2310/00—Structure or type of the nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/30—Chemical structure
    • C12N2310/31—Chemical structure of the backbone
    • C12N2310/315—Phosphorothioates
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2320/00—Applications; Uses
    • C12N2320/30—Special therapeutic applications
    • C12N2320/32—Special delivery means, e.g. tissue-specific
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A50/00—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE in human health protection, e.g. against extreme weather
    • Y02A50/30—Against vector-borne diseases, e.g. mosquito-borne, fly-borne, tick-borne or waterborne diseases whose impact is exacerbated by climate change

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to immunomodulatory compositions comprising an oligonucleotide and methods of use thereof.
  • the invention relates to immunomodulatory compositions comprising an oligonucleotide bound to a microparticle, where the oligonucleotide is 7 nucleotides in length. It also relates to the a ⁇ ministration of the oligonucleotide/microcarrier complex to modulate at least one immune response.
  • the type of immune response generated to infection or other antigenic challenge can generally be distinguished by the subset of T helper (Th) cells involved in the response.
  • the Thl subset is responsible for classical cell-mediated functions such as delayed-type hypersensitivity and activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), whereas the Th2 subset functions more effectively as a helper for B-cell activation.
  • CTLs cytotoxic T lymphocytes
  • the type of immune response to an antigen is generally influenced by the cytokines produced by the cells responding to the antigen. Differences in the cytokines secreted by Thl and Th2 cells are believed to reflect different biological functions of these two subsets. See, for example, Romagnani (2000) Ann. Allergy Asthma Immunol 85:9-18.
  • the Thl subset may be particularly suited to respond to viral infections, intracellular pathogens, and tumor cells because it secretes IL-2 and IFN- ⁇ , which activate CTLs.
  • the Th2 subset may be more suited to respond to free-living bacteria and helminthic parasites and may mediate allergic reactions, since IL-4 and IL-5 are known to induce IgE production and eosinophil activation, respectively.
  • Thl and Th2 cells secrete distinct patterns of cytokines and so one type of response can moderate the activity of the other type of response. A shift in the Thl/Th2 balance can result in an allergic response, for example, or, alternatively, in an increased CTL response.
  • Th2-type responses are of little protective value against infection.
  • Proposed vaccines using small peptides derived from the target antigen and other currently used antigenic agents that avoid use of potentially infective intact viral particles do not always elicit the immune response necessary to achieve a therapeutic effect.
  • the lack of a therapeutically effective human immunodeficiency virus (HIN) vaccine is an unfortunate example of this failure.
  • Protein- based vaccines typically induce Th2-type immune responses, characterized by high titers of neutralizing antibodies but without significant cell-mediated immunity.
  • allergic responses also involve Th2-type immune responses.
  • Allergic responses including those of allergic asthma, are characterized by an early phase response, which occurs within seconds to minutes of allergen exposure and is characterized by cellular degranulation, and a late phase response, which occurs 4 to 24 hours later and is characterized by infiltration of eosinophils into the site of allergen exposure.
  • allergen cross-links IgE antibodies on basopbils and mast cells, which in turn triggers degranulation and the subsequent release of histamine and other mediators of inflammation from mast cells and basopbils.
  • eosinophils infiltrate into the site of allergen exposure (where tissue damage and dysfunction result).
  • Antigen immunotherapy for allergic disorders involves the subcutaneous injection of small, but gradually increasing amounts, of antigen.
  • Such immunization treatments present the risk of inducing IgE-mediated anaphylaxis and do not efficiently address the cytokine-mediated events of the allergic late phase response. Thus far, this approach has yielded only limited success.
  • ISS immunostimulatory sequences
  • ISS immunostimulatory sequences
  • an immunostimulatory polynucleotide with an antigen results in a Thl -type immune response to the administered antigen.
  • mice injected intradermally with Escherichia coli E.
  • ISS-containing oligonucleotides bound to microparticles have previously been shown to have immunostimulatory activity in vitro (Liang et al., (1996), J Clin. Invest. 98:1119-1129).
  • ISS-containing oligonucleotides bound to gold, latex and magnetic particles are not active in stimulating proliferation of 7TD1 cells, which proliferate in response to ISS-containing oligonucleotides (Manzel et al., (1999), Antisense Nucl. Acid Drug Dev. 9:459-464).
  • the invention relates to new compositions and methods for modulating immune responses in individuals, particularly human individuals.
  • the invention relates to compositions which comprise immunomodulatory polynucleotide/microcarrier (IMP/MC) complexes.
  • An IMP/MC complex comprises a heptameric oligonucleotide, having a 5'-CG-3' sequence, linked to a filterable, insoluble microcarrier (MC), which may be either biodegradable or nonbiodegradable.
  • MC filterable, insoluble microcarrier
  • the oligonucleotide may be covalently or non-covalently linked to the microcarrier in the complex, and the oligonucleotide may be modified to facilitate complex formation.
  • Microcarriers used in IMP/MC complexes are typically solid phase microcarriers, although liquid phase microcarriers (e.g., an oil in water emulsion comprising a polymer or oil, preferably a biodegradable polymer or oil) are also contemplated. Microcarriers are generally less than about 150, 120 or 100 ⁇ m, more commonly less than about 50-60 ⁇ m in size, and may be about 10 nm to about 10 ⁇ m or about 25 nm to 5 ⁇ m in size. In certain embodiments, the compositions of the invention comprise an IMP/MC complex and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.
  • liquid phase microcarriers e.g., an oil in water emulsion comprising a polymer or oil, preferably a biodegradable polymer or oil
  • Microcarriers are generally less than about 150, 120 or 100 ⁇ m, more commonly less than about 50-60 ⁇ m in size, and may be about 10 nm to about 10 ⁇ m or about 25 nm
  • compositions of the invention comprise an antigen-free IMP/MC complex, i.e., an IMP/MC complex not linked to an antigen (either directly or indirectly).
  • the IMP/MC complex further comprises an antigen.
  • the heptameric oligonucleotide of the IMP/MC complex comprises the sequence 5'-TCG-3' and/or the sequence 5'-UCG-3'. In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide of the IMP/MC complex comprises the sequence 5'-CG- 3' and further comprises the sequence 5'-TCG-3' or the sequence 5'-UCG-3'.
  • the oligonucleotide of the IMP/MC complex consists of a sequence according to one of the following formulas: 5'-TCGX ⁇ X 2 X 3 X 4 -3', 5'- X ⁇ TCGX 2 X 3 X4-3' and S'-XiX ⁇ TCGXa t-S', where X ⁇ ,X 2 , X 3 and X» are nucleotides.
  • the invention in another aspect, relates to methods of modulating an immune response in an individual, comprising administering to an individual a composition comprising an IMP/MC complex in an amount sufficient to modulate an immune response in said individual.
  • Immunomodulation according to the methods of the invention may be practiced on individuals including those suffering from a disorder associated with a Th2- type immune response (e.g., allergies or allergy-induced asthma), individuals receiving vaccines such as therapeutic vaccines (e.g., vaccines comprising an allergy epitope, a mycobacterial epitope, or a tumor associated epitope) or prophylactic vaccines, individuals with cancer, individuals having an infectious disease and individuals at risk of exposure to an infectious agent.
  • the invention relates to methods of increasing interferon-gamma (IFN- ⁇ ) in an individual, comprising administering an effective amount of a composition comprising an IMP/MC complex to the individual.
  • Administration of an IMP/MC complex in accordance with the invention increases IFN- ⁇ in the individual.
  • Suitable subjects for these methods include those individuals having idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), scleroderma, cutaneous radiation-induced fibrosis, hepatic fibrosis including schistosomiasis-induced hepatic fibrosis, renal fibrosis as well as other conditions which may be improved by administration of IFN- ⁇ .
  • the invention in another aspect, relates to methods of increasing IFN- ⁇ in an individual, comprising administering an effective amount of a composition comprising an IMP/MC complex to the individual.
  • Administration of an IMP/MC complex in accordance with the invention increases IFN- ⁇ levels in the individual.
  • Suitable subjects for these methods include those individuals having disorders which respond to the administration of IFN- ⁇ , including viral infections and cancer.
  • the invention in another aspect, relates to methods of ameliorating one or more symptoms of an infectious disease, comprising administering an effective amount of a composition comprising an IMP/MC complex to an individual having an infectious disease.
  • Administration of an IMP/MC complex in accordance with the invention ameliorates one or more symptoms of the infectious disease.
  • infectious diseases which may be treated in accordance with the invention include infectious diseases caused by a cellular pathogen (e.g., a mycobacterial disease, malaria, leishmaniasis, toxoplasmosis, schistosomiasis or clonorchiasis), and may include or exclude viral diseases.
  • kits for carrying out the methods of the invention comprise an IMP/MC complex (or as described herein, materials for production of IMP/MC complexes) and optionally include instructions for use of IMP/MC complex in immunomodulation of an individual, for example when the individual suffers from a disorder associated with a Th2-type immune response (e.g. , allergies or allergy-induced asthma), is receiving vaccines such as therapeutic vaccines (e.g., vaccines comprising an allergy epitope, a mycobacterial epitope, or a tumor associated epitope) or prophylactic vaccines, suffers from cancer, suffers from an infectious disease or is at risk of exposure to an infectious agent.
  • a Th2-type immune response e.g. , allergies or allergy-induced asthma
  • vaccines e.g., vaccines comprising an allergy epitope, a mycobacterial epitope, or a tumor associated epitope
  • prophylactic vaccines suffers from cancer, suffers from an infectious disease or is at risk of exposure to an infectious agent.
  • compositions of the invention comprise a heptameric oligonucleotide, comprising a 5'-C, G-3' sequence, complexed with a microcarrier (MC).
  • MC microcarrier
  • the oligonucleotide of the IMP/MC complex consists of a sequence according to one of the following formulas: 5'-TCGX ⁇ X 2 X 3 X4-3', 5'- X 1 TCGX2X 3 X4-3' and 5'-X ⁇ X 2 TCGX3X4-3', where X u X 2 , X 3 and X4 are nucleotides.
  • Our discovery is of particular interest because human cells, as is known in the art, can be more resistant to immunomodulation by oligonucleotides than cells from commonly used laboratory animals, such as mice.
  • IMP/MC complexes were more effective at lower doses than free oligonucleotides alone in immunomodulation. In human cells, IMP/MC complexes were generally more active than free oligonucleotides in inducing IFN- ⁇ and IFN- ⁇ .
  • the IMP/MC complexes may include or exclude an antigen.
  • the invention provides compositions comprising antigen-free IMP/MC complexes, i.e., IMP/MC complexes not linked to an antigen (directly or indirectly).
  • the invention provides compositions comprising IMP/MC complexes mixed with one or more antigens.
  • the invention provides compositions comprising IMP/MC complexes linked to antigen.
  • the immunomodulatory polynucleotide/microcarrier (IMP/MC) complexes of the invention may be covalently or non-covalently linked, and comprise a microcarrier (e.g., a carrier of less than about 10 ⁇ m size) that is insoluble and/or filterable in water.
  • a microcarrier e.g., a carrier of less than about 10 ⁇ m size
  • Microcarriers are generally solid phase (e.g., polylactic acid beads), although liquid phase microcarriers (e.g., an oil in water emulsion comprising a polymer or oil, preferably a biodegradable polymer or oil) are also useful.
  • the oligonucleotide may be modified to allow or augment binding to the MC (e.g., by incorporation of a free sulfhydryl for covalent crosslinking or addition of a hydrophobic moiety such as cholesterol for hydrophobic bonding).
  • the invention provides new compositions comprising an oligonucleotide covalently linked to a microcarrier to form a covalent IMP/MC complex.
  • Linkage between the oligonucleotide and MC may be direct (e.g., via disulfide bond between sulfhydryls on the oligonucleotide and MC) or the constituents may be linked by a crosslinking moiety of one or more atoms separating the bonds to the oligonucleotide and MC.
  • compositions comprising an oligonucleotide non-covalently linked to a microcarrier to provide a non-covalent IMP/MC complex.
  • Non-covalent IMP/MC complexes generally comprise an oligonucleotide that has been modified to allow binding to the microcarrier (e.g., by addition of a cholesterol moiety to the oligonucleotide to allow hydrophobic binding to oil or lipid based microcarrier) although, as would be understood by those in the art, the properties of the native oligonucleotide may be used to bind to the microcarrier (e.g., electrostatic binding to a cationic microcarrier such as cationic poly(lactic acid, glycolic acid) copolymer).
  • kits for practicing the methods of the invention comprise any of the IMP/MC complexes and/or components for the IMP/MC complex in suitable packaging and may also contain instructions for administering an IMP/MC complex for immunomodulation in a subject.
  • an ISS includes one or more ISS.
  • polynucleotide and “oligonucleotide” include single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), modified oligonucleotides and oligonucleosides or combinations thereof.
  • the oligonucleotide can be linearly or circularly configured, or the oligonucleotide can contain both linear and circular segments.
  • Oligonucleotides are polymers of nucleosides joined, generally, through phosphoester linkages, although alternate linkages, such as phosphorothioate esters may also be used in oligonucleotides.
  • a nucleoside consists of a purine (adenine, guanine or inosine, or derivative thereof) or pyrimidine (thymine, cytosine or uracil, or derivative thereof) base bonded to a sugar.
  • the four nucleoside units (or bases) in DNA are called deoxyadenosine, deoxyguanosine, deoxythymidine, and deoxycytidine.
  • a nucleotide is a phosphate ester of a nucleoside.
  • heptameric oligonucleotide refers to an oligonucleotide seven nucleotides, or bases (or base pairs), in length.
  • the instant disclosure uses single letters to indicate bases of a nucleotide sequence, where A is adenine, G is guanine, C is cytosine, T is thymine, U is uracil, I is inosine, R is a purine, and Y is a pyrimidine.
  • ISS refers to polynucleotide sequences, alone and/or complexed with MC, that effect a measurable immune response as measured in vitro, in vivo and/or ex vivo.
  • measurable immune responses include, but are not limited to, antigen-specific antibody production, secretion of cytokines, activation or expansion of lymphocyte populations such as NK cells, CD4+ T lymphocytes, CD8+ T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and the like.
  • the ISS sequences preferentially activate a Thl -type response.
  • a polynucleotide for use in the invention contains at least one ISS.
  • ISS is also a shorthand term for an ISS-containing polynucleotide.
  • immunomodulatory polynucleotide refers to a polynucleotide comprising at least one ISS.
  • the IMP is an ISS.
  • microcarrier refers to a particulate composition which is insoluble in water and which has a size of less than about 150, 120 or 100 ⁇ m in size, more commonly less than about 50-60 ⁇ m, preferably less than about 10, 5, 2.5, 2 or 1.5 ⁇ m.
  • Microcarriers include "nanocarriers", which are microcarriers have a size of less than about 1 ⁇ m, preferably less than about 500 nm.
  • Solid phase microcarriers may be particles formed from biocompatible naturally occurring polymers, synthetic polymers or synthetic copolymers, which may include or exclude microcarriers formed from agarose or cross-linked agarose, as well as other biodegradable materials known in the art.
  • Microcarriers for use in the instant invention may be biodegradable or nonbiodegradable.
  • Biodegradable solid phase microcarriers may be formed from polymers which are degradable (e.g., poly(lactic acid), poly(glycolic acid) and copolymers thereof) or erodible (e.g., poly(ortho esters such as 3,9- diethylidene-2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro[5.5]undecane (DETOSU) or poly(anhydrides), such as poly(anhydrides) of sebacic acid) under mammalian physiological conditions.
  • degradable e.g., poly(lactic acid), poly(glycolic acid) and copolymers thereof
  • erodible e.g., poly(ortho esters such as 3,9- diethylidene-2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro[5.5]undecane (DETOSU) or poly(anhydrides), such as poly
  • Nonbiodegradable microcarriers may be formed from materials which are non-erodible and/or non-degradable under mammalian physiological conditions, such as polystyrene, polypropylene, silica, ceramic, polyacrylamide, gold, latex, hydroxyapatite, dextran, and ferromagnetic and paramagnetic materials.
  • Microcarriers may also be liquid phase (e.g., oil or lipid based), such liposomes, iscoms (immune-stimulating complexes, which are stable complexes of cholesterol, and phospholipid, adjuvant-active saponin) without antigen, or droplets or micelles found in oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsions.
  • Biodegradable liquid phase microcarriers typically incorporate a biodegradable oil, a number of which are known in the art, including squalene and vegetable oils. Microcarriers are typically spherical in shape, but microcarriers which deviate from spherical shape are also acceptable (e.g., elipsoid, rod-shaped, etc.). Due to their insoluble nature (with respect to water), microcarriers are filterable from water and water-based (aqueous) solutions.
  • the "size" of a microcarrier is generally the "design size” or intended size of the particles stated by the manufacturer. Size may be a directly measured dimension, such as average or maximum diameter, or may be determined by an indirect assay such as a filtration screening assay. Direct measurement of microcarrier size is typically carried out by microscopy, generally light microscopy or scanning electron microscopy (SEM), in comparison with particles of known size or by reference to a micrometer. As minor variations in size arise during the manufacturing process, microcarriers are considered to be of a stated size if measurements show the microcarriers are + about 5-10% of the stated measurement. Size characteristics may also be determined by dynamic light scattering or obscuration techniques. Alternately, microcarrier size may be determined by filtration screening assays.
  • a microcarrier is less than a stated size if at least 97% of the particles pass through a "screen-type” filter (i.e., a filter in which retained particles are on the surface of the filter, such as polycarbonate or polyethersulfone filters, as opposed to a "depth filter” in which retained particles lodge within the filter) of the stated size.
  • a microcarrier is larger than a stated size if at least about 97% of the microcarrier particles are retained by a screen-type filter of the stated size.
  • at least about 97% microcarriers of about 10 ⁇ m to about 10 nm in size pass through a 10 ⁇ m pore screen filter and are retained by a 10 nm screen filter.
  • a microcarrier is considered “biodegradable” if it is degradable or erodable under normal mammalian physiological conditions.
  • a microcarrier is considered biodegradable if it is degraded (i.e., loses at least 5% of its mass and/or average polymer length) after a 72 hour incubation at 37° C in normal human serum.
  • a microcarrier is considered “nonbiodegradable” if it is not degraded or eroded under normal mammalian physiological conditions.
  • a microcarrier is considered nonbiodegradable if it not degraded (i.e., loses less than 5% of its mass and/or average polymer length) after at 72 hour incubation at 37° C in normal human serum.
  • immunomodulatory polynucleotide/microcarrier complex refers to a complex of a heptameric oligonucleotide comprising a 5'-CG-3' sequence and a microcarrier of the invention.
  • the components of the complex may be covalently or non-covalently linked.
  • Non-covalent linkages may be mediated by any non- covalent bonding force, including by hydrophobic interaction, ionic (electrostatic) bonding, hydrogen bonds and/or van der Waals attractions.
  • hydrophobic linkages the linkage is generally via a hydrophobic moiety (e.g., cholesterol) covalently linked to the oligonucleotide.
  • immunomodulatory can refer to the oligonucleotide and/or the complex.
  • IMP/MC may exhibit immunomodulatory activity even when the oligonucleotide of the IMP/MC has a sequence that, if presented as an oligonucleotide alone, does not exhibit comparable immunomodulatory activity.
  • an oligonucleotide of an IMP/MC when presented alone, does not have "isolated immunomodulatory activity," or has "inferior isolated immunomodulatory activity,” (i.e., when compared to the IMP/MC).
  • the "isolated immunomodulatory activity" of an oligonucleotide is determined by measuring the immunomodulatory activity of the isolated oligonucleotide having the same nucleic acid backbone (e.g., phosphorothioate, phosphodiester, chimeric) using standard assays which indicate at least one aspect of an immune response, such as those described herein.
  • nucleic acid backbone e.g., phosphorothioate, phosphodiester, chimeric
  • immunomodulatory or “modulating an immune response” as used herein includes immunostimulatory as well as immunosuppressive effects. Immunomodulation is primarily a qualitative alteration in an overall immune response, although quantitative changes may also occur in conjunction with immunomodulation.
  • An immune response that is immunomodulated according to the present invention is one that is shifted towards a "Thl -type” immune response, as opposed to a "Th2-type” immune response.
  • Thl -type responses are typically considered cellular immune system (e.g., cytotoxic lymphocytes) responses, while Th2-type responses are generally "humoral", or antibody-based.
  • Thl -type immune responses are normally characterized by "delayed-type hypersensitivity" reactions to an antigen, and can be detected at the biochemical level by increased levels of Thl -associated cytokines such as IFN- ⁇ , IL-2, IL-12, and TNF- ⁇ , as well as IFN- ⁇ and IL-6, although IL-6 may also be associated with Th2-type responses as well.
  • Thl -type immune responses are generally associated with the production of cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTLs) and low levels or transient production of antibody.
  • CTLs cytotoxic lymphocytes
  • Th2-type immune responses are generally associated with higher levels of antibody production, including IgE production, an absence of or minimal CTL production, as well as expression of Th2- associated cytokines such as IL-4. Accordingly, immunomodulation in accordance with the invention may be recognized by, for example, an increase in IFN- ⁇ and/or a decrease in IgE production in an individual treated in accordance with the methods of the invention as compared to the absence of
  • conjugate refers to a complex in which an oligonucleotide comprising a 5'-CG-3' sequence and an antigen are linked.
  • conjugate linkages include covalent and/or non-covalent linkages.
  • antigen means a substance that is recognized and bound specifically by an antibody or by a T cell antigen receptor.
  • Antigens can include peptides, proteins, glycoproteins, polysaccharides, complex carbohydrates, sugars, gangliosides, lipids and phospholipids; portions thereof and combinations thereof.
  • the antigens can be those found in nature or can be synthetic.
  • Antigens suitable for administration with ISS include any molecule capable of eliciting a B cell or T cell antigen-specific response. Preferably, antigens elicit an antibody response specific for the antigen.
  • Haptens are included within the scope of "antigen.”
  • a hapten is a low molecular weight compound that is not immunogenic by itself but is rendered immunogenic when conjugated with an immunogenic molecule containing antigenic determinants. Small molecules may need to be haptenized in order to be rendered antigenic.
  • antigens of the present invention include peptides, lipids (e.g. sterols, fatty acids, and phospholipids), polysaccharides such as those used in Hemophilus influenza vaccines, gangliosides and glycoproteins.
  • Adjuvant refers to a substance which, when added to an immunogenic agent such as antigen, nonspecifically enhances or potentiates an immune response to the agent in the recipient host upon exposure to the mixture.
  • peptide are polypeptides that are of sufficient length and composition to effect a biological response, e.g. antibody production or cytokine activity whether or not the peptide is a hapten. Typically, the peptides are at least six amino acid residues in length.
  • peptide further includes modified amino acids (whether or not naturally or non-naturally occurring), such modifications including, but not limited to, phosphorylation, glycosylation, pegylation, lipidization and methylation.
  • Antigenic peptides can include purified native peptides, synthetic peptides, recombinant peptides, crude peptide extracts, or peptides in a partially purified or unpurified active state (such as peptides that are a part of attenuated or inactivated viruses, cells, or micro-organisms, or fragments of such peptides).
  • An "antigenic peptide” or “antigen polypeptide” accordingly means all or a portion of a polypeptide which exhibits one or more antigenic properties.
  • an "Amb a 1 antigenic polypeptide” or “Amb a 1 polypeptide antigen” is an amino acid sequence from Amb a 1, whether the entire sequence, a portion of the sequence, and/or a modification of the sequence, which exhibits an antigenic property (i.e., binds specifically to an antibody or a T cell receptor).
  • a “delivery molecule” or “delivery vehicle” is a chemical moiety which facilitates, permits, and/or enhances delivery of an IMP MC complex to a particular site and/or with respect to particular timing.
  • a delivery vehicle may or may not additionally stimulate an immune response.
  • An "allergic response to antigen” means an immune response generally characterized by the generation of eosinophils and/or antigen-specific IgE and their resultant effects.
  • IgE binds to IgE receptors on mast cells and basopbils. Upon later exposure to the antigen recognized by the IgE, the antigen crosslinks the IgE on the mast cells and basophils causing degranulation of these cells, including, but not limited, to histamine release.
  • the terms "allergic response to antigen”, “allergy”, and “allergic condition” are equally appropriate for application of some of the methods of the invention. Further, it is understood and intended that the methods of the invention include those that are equally appropriate for prevention of an allergic response as well as treating a pre-existing allergic condition.
  • allergen means an antigen or antigenic portion of a molecule, usually a protein, which elicits an allergic response upon exposure to a subject.
  • the subject is allergic to the allergen as indicated, for instance, by the wheal and flare test or any method known in the art.
  • a molecule is said to be an allergen even if only a small subset of subjects exhibit an allergic (e.g., IgE) immune response upon exposure to the molecule.
  • IgE allergic (e.g., IgE) immune response upon exposure to the molecule.
  • isolated allergens are known in the art. These include, but are not limited to, those provided in Table 1 herein.
  • desensitization refers to the process of the administration of increasing doses of an allergen to which the subject has demonstrated sensitivity.
  • allergen doses used for desensitization are known in the art, see, for example, Fornadley (1998) Otolaryngol Clin. North Am. 31:111-127.
  • Antigen-specific immunotherapy refers to any form of immunotherapy which involves antigen and generates an antigen-specific modulation of the immune response.
  • antigen-specific immunotherapy includes, but is not limited to, desensitization therapy.
  • mammals include, but are not limited to, humans, primates, farm animals, sport animals, rodents and pets. Vertebrates also include, but are not limited to, birds (i.e., avian individuals) and reptiles (i.e., reptilian individuals).
  • an “effective amount” or a “sufficient amount” of a substance is that amount sufficient to effect beneficial or desired results, including clinical results, and, as such, an "effective amount” depends upon the context in which it is being applied.
  • an effective amount of an IMP MC complex is an amount sufficient to achieve such a modulation as compared to the immune response obtained when the antigen is administered alone.
  • An effective amount can be administered in one or more administrations.
  • co-administration refers to the administration of at least two different substances sufficiently close in time to modulate an immune response.
  • co-administration refers to simultaneous administration of at least two different substances.
  • Stimulation of an immune response means an increase in the response, which can arise from eliciting and/or enhancement of a response.
  • IgE associated disorder is a physiological condition which is characterized, in part, by elevated IgE levels, which may or may not be persistent.
  • IgE associated disorders include, but are not limited to, allergy and allergic reactions, allergy-related disorders (described below), asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, urticaria, shock, Hymenoptera sting allergies, and drug allergies, and parasite infections. The term also includes related manifestations of these disorders. Generally, IgE in such disorders is antigen-specific.
  • an "allergy-related disorder” means a disorder resulting from the effects of an antigen-specific IgE immune response. Such effects can include, but are not limited to, hypotension and shock.
  • Anaphylaxis is an example of an allergy-related disorder during which histamine released into the circulation causes vasodilation as well as increased permeability of the capillaries with resultant marked loss of plasma from the circulation. Anaphylaxis can occur systemically, with the associated effects experienced over the entire body, and it can occur locally, with the reaction limited to a specific target tissue or organ.
  • viral disease refers to a disease which has a virus as its etiologic agent.
  • examples of viral diseases include hepatitis B, hepatitis C, influenza, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and herpes zoster.
  • treatment is an approach for obtaining beneficial or desired results, including clinical results.
  • beneficial or desired clinical results include, but are not limited to, alleviation or amelioration of one or more symptoms, diminishment of extent of disease, stabilized (i.e., not worsening) state of disease, preventing spread of disease, delay or slowing of disease progression, amelioration or palliation of the disease state, and remission (whether partial or total), whether detectable or undetectable.
  • Treatment can also mean prolonging survival as compared to expected survival if not receiving treatment.
  • “Palliating" a disease or disorder means that the extent and/or undesirable clinical manifestations of a disorder or a disease state are lessened and/or time course of the progression is slowed or lengthened, as compared to not treating the disorder.
  • palliation may occur upon modulation of the immune response against an allergen(s). Further, palliation does not necessarily occur by administration of one dose, but often occurs upon administration of a series of doses. Thus, an amount sufficient to palliate a response or disorder may be administered in one or more administrations.
  • an “antibody titer”, or “amount of antibody”, which is “elicited” by an IMP/MC complex refers to the amount of a given antibody measured at a time point after administration of IMP/MC complex.
  • Thl -associated antibody is an antibody whose production and/or increase is associated with a Thl immune response.
  • IgG2a is a Thl -associated antibody in mouse.
  • measurement of a Thl -associated antibody can be measurement of one or more such antibodies.
  • measurement of a Thl -associated antibody could entail measurement of IgGl and/or IgG3.
  • Th2-associated antibody is an antibody whose production and/or increase is associated with a Th2 immune response.
  • IgGl is a Th2-associated antibody in mouse.
  • measurement of a Th2-associated antibody can be measurement of one or more such antibodies.
  • measurement of a Th2-associated antibody could entail measurement of IgG2 and/or IgG4.
  • a function or activity such as cytokine production, antibody production, or Mstamine release
  • cytokine production is to reduce the function or activity when compared to otherwise same conditions except for a condition or parameter of interest, or alternatively, as compared to another condition.
  • an IMP/MC complex administered with an antigen or including an antigen which suppresses histamine release reduced histamine release as compared to, for example, histamine release induced by antigen alone.
  • compositions of the invention are provided.
  • the invention provides new compositions for modulating immune response in individuals.
  • the new compositions are immunomodulatory polynucleotide/microcarrier (IMP/MC) complexes which comprise a heptameric oligonucleotide, comprising a 5'-CG-3' sequence, complexed to a microcarrier, which may be either biodegrabable or nonbiodegradable.
  • IMP/MC complexes may be covalent complexes, in which the oligonucleotide portion of the complex is covalently bonded to the MC, either directly or via a linker (i.e., indirectly), or they may be non-covalent complexes.
  • the oligonucleotide is 7 bases or base pairs in length, contains at least one 5'-cytosine, guanine-3' sequence and can contain more than one 5'-CG-3' sequences, including those with modifications.
  • the oligonucleotide may also comprise (i.e., contain one or more of) the sequence 5'-T, C, G-3*. Accordingly, an oligonucleotide may contain 5'-CG-3' and/or 5'-TCG-3'.
  • the oligonucleotide affects a measurable immune response, as measured in vitro, in vivo and/or ex vivo, when complexed with a microcarrier. In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide is not active or, in some embodiments, is less active, as measured in vitro, in vivo and/or ex vivo, when uncomplexed.
  • the cytosine of the 5'-cytosine, guanine-3' sequence is generally unmethylated, especially at the C-5 position.
  • IMP/MC conveys and is defined, an IMP/MC complex effects an immune response and as such, in certain embodiments, methylation of the cytosine of the oligonucleotide may be permitted, for example, at the N-4 position.
  • the oligonucleotide may comprise the sequence 5'-C, G, pyrimidine, pyrimidine, C, G-3' (such as 5'-CGTTCG-3'). In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises the sequence 5'-purine, purine, C, G, pyrimidine, pyrimidine-3' (such as 5'-AACGTT-3'). In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide may comprise the sequence 5 '-purine, T, C, G, pyrimidine, pyrimidine-3'.
  • the oligonucleotide comprises any of the following sequences: GACGCT; GACGTC; GACGTT; GACGCC; GACGCU; GACGUC; GACGUU; GACGUT; GACGTU; AGCGTT; AGCGCT; AGCGTC; AGCGCC; AGCGUU; AGCGCU; AGCGUC; AGCGUT; AGCGTU; AACGTC; AACGCC; AACGTT; AACGCT; AACGUC; AACGUU; AACGCU; AACGUT; AACGTU; GGCGTT; GGCGCT; GGCGTC; GGCGCC; GGCGUU; GGCGCU; GGCGUC; GGCGUT; GGCGTU.
  • the oligonucleotide comprises any of the following sequences: GABGCT; GABGTC; GABGTT; GABGCC; GABGCU; GABGUC; GABGUU; GABGUT; GABGTU; AGBGTT; AGBGCT; AGBGTC; AGBGCC; AGBGUU; AGBGCU; AGBGUC; AGBGUT; AGBGTU; AABGTC; AABGCC; AABGTT; AABGCT; AABGUC; AABGUU; AABGCU; AABGUT; AABGTU; GGBGTT; GGBGCT; GGBGTC; GGBGCC; GGBGUU; GGBGCU; GGBGUC; GGBGUT; GGBGTU, where B is 5-bromocytosine.
  • the oligonucleotide consists of the sequence 5'- TCGX ⁇ X 2 X 3 X 4 -3' or S'-UCGX ⁇ XsX S' wherein Xi, X 2 , X 3 , _* are nucleotides.
  • the oligonucleotide consists of any of the following sequences: 5'- TCGTTTT-3'; 5'-TCGAAAA-3'; 5*-TCGCCCC-3'; 5'-TCGGGGG-3*; 5'-TCGUUUU-3*; 5*- TCGIIII-3'; S'-UCGTTTT-S*; 5*-UCGAAAA-3'; 5'-UCGCCCC-3'; 5'-UCGGGGG-3'; 5'- UCGUUUU-3'; 5'-UCGIIII-3'.
  • the oligonucleotide consists of the sequence are nucleotides.
  • the oligonucleotide consists of any of the following sequences: 5'-TTCGTTT-3*; 5*-ATCGATT-3*; 5'-TUCGTTT-3'; 5'-AUCGATT-3'. In some embodments, the oligonucleotide consists of the sequence 5 , -X 1 X 2 TCGX 3 X -3' or 5'- XiX ⁇ CGXs ⁇ -3', wherein X 1? X 2 , X 3 , X are nucleotides.
  • the oligonucleotide consists of any of the following sequences: 5'-TTTCGTT-3'; 5'- AATCGAT-3'; 5'-TTUCGTT-3'; 5'-AAUCGAT-3'.
  • the oligonucleotide consists of the sequence S'-TCGTCGX ⁇ - 3', wherein Xi is a nucleotide.
  • the oligonucleotide consists of any of the following sequences: 5'-TCGTCGA-3'; 5'-TCGTCGC-3'; 5*-TCGTCGG-3'; 5'- TCGTCGT-3*; 5*-TCGTCGU-3'; 5'-TCGTCGI-3 ⁇
  • the oligonucleotide consists of the sequence S'-TCGUCGXi-S', S'-UCGTCGX ⁇ ', or 5*- UCGUCGXi-3', wherein Xi is a nucleotide.
  • the oligonucleotide consists of any of the following sequences: 5"-TCGUCGA-3'; 5'-TCGUCGC-3'; 5'- TCGUCGG-3'; 5'-TCGUCGT-3'; 5*-TCGUCGU-3*; 5'-TCGUCGI-3'; 5'-UCGTCGA-3'; 5*- UCGTCGC-3'; 5'-UCGTCGG-3'; 5*-UCGTCGT-3'; 5'-UCGTCGU-3'; 5'-UCGTCGI-3*; 5'- UCGUCGA-3 * ; 5'-UCGUCGC-3'; 5'-UCGUCGG-3*; 5'-UCGUCGT-3'; 5'-UCGUCGU-3'; 5'-UCGUCGI-3*.
  • the oligonucleotide consists of the sequence 5'-T mC GX 1 X 2 X 3 X 4 -3' or 5'-U mC wherein X u X 2 , X 3 , X 4 are nucleotides and wherein mC is a modified cytosine as described herein.
  • the oligonucleotide consists of the sequence 5'-X ⁇ T mC GX 2 X 3 X -3' or 5' ⁇ U mC GX2X3X4- 3', wherein X ls X 2 , X 3 , X 4 are nucleotides.
  • the oligonucleotide consists of the sequence 5'-X ! X 2 T mC GX 3 X 4 -3' or 5*-X ⁇ X 2 U mC 0X3X 4 -3', wherein Xi, X 2 , X 3 , X 4 are nucleotides.
  • the oligonucleotide consists of the sequence 5'-T mC GTCGX ! -3', 5'-T mC GUCGX ⁇ *, 5'-U mC GTCGX r 3' or 5*-U mC GUCGX ⁇ -3', wherein Xi is a nucleotide.
  • the oligonucleotide consists of the sequence 5'- TCGT mC GX 3*, 5'-UCGT mC GX 3'. 5'-TCGU mC GX ⁇ -3' or 5'-UCGU mC GXi-3', wherein Xi is a nucleotide.
  • the oligonucleotide consists of the sequence 5'-T mC GT mC GX ⁇ -3', 5'-U mC GT mC GX 3', 5'-T mC GU mC GX 3' or 5'- U mC GU mC GX ⁇ -3', wherein Xi is a nucleotide.
  • a modified cytosine (mC) includes addition of an electron- withdrawing moiety to C-5 and/or C-6 of a cytosine, including, but not limited to, C-5 halogenated cytosine, such as 5-bromocytosine.
  • the oligonucleotide consists of any of the following sequences: 5'-TBGTTTT-3*; 5'-TBGAAAA-3'; 5'-TBGCCCC-3'; 5'-TBGGGGG-3'; 5'- TBGUUUU-3'; S'-TBGIIiL ⁇ '; 5'-TBGTCGA-3'; 5'-TBGTCGC-3*; 5'-TBGTCGG-3'; 5"- TBGTCGT-3'; 5*-TBGTCGU-3'; 5'-TBGTCGI-3'; 5'-TCGTBGA-3'; 5'-TCGTBGC-3'; 5'- TCGTBGG-3*; 5'-TCGTBGT-3'; 5'-TCGTBGU-3'; 5'-TCGTBGI-3'; 5'-TBGTBGA-3'; 5'- TBGTBGC-3'; 5'-TBGTBGG-3'; 5'-TBGTBGT-3', 5'-TBGTBGTB, 5'-
  • the heptameric oligonucleotide may contain modifications. Modifications of the heptameric oligonucleotide include any known in the art, but are not limited to, modifications of the 3 'OH or 5 'OH group, modifications of the nucleotide base, modifications of the sugar component, and modifications of the phosphate group. Various such modifications are described below.
  • cytosines present in the oligonucleotide are not methylated, however, in certain embodiments the oligonucleotide may contain on or more methylated cytosines. In such embodiments it is preferred that the cytosine of the 5'-CG-3' of the oligonucleotide is not methylated at the C-5 position. However, methylation at position N- 4 is contemplated in those oligonucleotides with methylated cytosines.
  • the heptameric oligonucleotide may be single stranded or double stranded DNA, as well as single or double-stranded RNA or other modified polynucleotides.
  • the heptameric oligonucleotide may or may not include one or more palindromic regions, which may be present in the motifs described above or may extend beyond the motif.
  • the heptameric oligonucleotide may contain naturally-occurring or modified, non-naturally occurring bases, and may contain modified sugar, phosphate, and/or termini.
  • phosphate modifications include, but are not limited to, methyl phosphonate, phosphorothioate, phosphoramidate (bridging or non-bridging), phosphotriester and phosphorodithioate and may be used in any combination. Other non-phosphate linkages may also be used.
  • oligonucleotides of the present invention comprise phosphodiester and/or phosphorothioate backbones.
  • Sugar modifications known in the field, such as 2'-alkoxy- RNA analogs, 2'-amino-RNA analogs and 2'-alkoxy- or amino-RNA/DNA chimeras and others described herein, may also be made and combined with any phosphate modification.
  • base modifications include, but are not limited to, addition of an electron- withdrawing moiety to C-5 and/or C-6 of a cytosine of the ISS (e.g., 5-bromocytosine, 5- chlorocytosine, 5-fIuorocytosine, 5-iodocytosine). See, for example, International Patent Application No. WO 99/62923.
  • an electron- withdrawing moiety e.g., 5-bromocytosine, 5- chlorocytosine, 5-fIuorocytosine, 5-iodocytosine.
  • the heptameric oligonucleotide can be synthesized using techniques and nucleic acid synthesis equipment which are well known in the art including, but not limited to, enzymatic methods, chemical methods, and the degradation of larger oligonucleotide sequences. See, for example, Ausubel et al. (1987); and Sambrook et al. (1989). Oligonucleotide degradation can be accomplished through the exposure of an oligonucleotide to a nuclease, as exemplified in U.S. Patent No. 4,650,675.
  • Circular oligonucleotides can be isolated, synthesized through recombinant methods, or chemically synthesized. The chemical synthesis of smaller circular oligonucleotides can be performed using any method described in the literature. See, for instance, Gao et al. (1995) Nucleic Acids Res. 23:2025-2029; and Wang et al. (1994) Nucleic Acids Res. 22:2326-2333.
  • Naturally occurring DNA or RNA, containing phosphodiester linkages is generally synthesized by sequentially coupling the appropriate nucleoside phosphoramidite to the 5'-hydroxy group of the growing oligonucleotide attached to a solid support at the 3 '-end, followed by oxidation of the intermediate phosphite triester to a phosphate triester.
  • the oligonucleotide is removed from the support, the phosphate triester groups are deprotected to phosphate diesters and the nucleoside bases are deprotected using aqueous ammonia or other bases.
  • the oligonucleotides can also contain phosphate-modified linkages. Synthesis of polynucleotides containing modified phosphate linkages or non-phosphate linkages is also know in the art. For a review, see Matteucci (1997) "Oligonucleotide Analogs: an Overview" in Oligonucleotides as Therapeutic Agents, (D. J. Chadwick and G. Cardew, ed.) John Wiley and Sons, New York, NY.
  • the phosphorous derivative (or modified phosphate group) which can be attached to the sugar or sugar analog moiety in the oligonucleotides of the present invention can be a monophosphate, diphosphate, triphosphate, alkylphosphonate, phosphorothioate, phosphorodithioate or the like.
  • the preparation of the above-noted phosphate analogs, and their incorporation into nucleotides, modified nucleotides and oligonucleotides, per se, is also known and need not be described here in detail. Peyrottes et al. (1996) Nucleic Acids Res. 24:1841-1848; Chaturvedi et al. (1996) Nucleic Acids Res.
  • Oligonucleotides with phosphorothioate backbones can be more immunogenic than those with phosphodiester backbones and appear to be more resistant to degradation after injection into the host. Braun et al. (1988) J. Immunol. 141:2084-2089; and Latimer et al. (1995) Mol. Immunol. 32:1057-1064.
  • Oligonucleotides used in the invention can comprise ribonucleotides (containing ribose as the only or principal sugar component), deoxyribonucleotides (containing deoxyribose as the principal sugar component), or, as is known in the art, modified sugars or sugar analogs can be incorporated in the oligonucleotide.
  • the sugar moiety in addition to ribose and deoxyribose, can be pentose, deoxypentose, hexose, deoxyhexose, glucose, arabinose, xylose, lyxose, and a sugar "analog" cyclopentyl group.
  • the sugar can be in pyranosyl or in a furanosyl form.
  • the sugar moiety is preferably the furanoside of ribose, deoxyribose, arabinose or 2'-0-alkylribose, and the sugar can be attached to the respective heterocyclic bases either in ⁇ or ⁇ anomeric configuration.
  • Sugar modifications include, but are not limited to, 2'-alkoxy-RNA analogs, 2'-amino-RNA analogs and 2'-alkoxy- or amino-RNA/DNA chimeras.
  • the preparation of these sugars or sugar analogs and the respective "nucleosides" wherein such sugars or analogs are attached to a heterocyclic base (nucleic acid base) per se is known, and need not be described here, except to the extent such preparation can pertain to any specific example.
  • Sugar modifications may also be made and combined with any phosphate modification in the preparation of the oligonucleotide.
  • heterocyclic bases, or nucleic acid bases, which are incorporated in the oligonucleotide can be the naturally-occurring principal purine and pyrimidine bases, (namely uracil, thymine, cytosine, inosine, adenine and guanine, as mentioned above), as well as naturally-occurring and synthetic modifications of said principal bases.
  • the oligonucleotide can include one or several heterocyclic bases other than the principal five base components of naturally-occurring nucleic acids.
  • the heterocyclic base in the oligonucleotide includes, but is not limited to, uracil-5-yl, cytosin-5-yl, adenin-7-yl, adenin-8-yl, guanin-7-yl, guanin-8-yl, 4- aminopyrrolo [2.3-d] pyrimidin-5-yl, 2-amino-4-oxopyrolo [2,3-d] pyrimidin-5-yl, 2- amino-4-oxopyrrolo [2.3-d] pyrimidin-3-yl groups, where the purines are attached to the sugar moiety of the ISS via the 9-position, the pyrimidines via the 1 -position, the pyrrolopyrimidines via the 7-position and the pyrazolopyrimidines via the 1 -position.
  • the oligonucleotide may comprise at least one modified base as described, for example, in the commonly owned international application WO 99/62923.
  • modified base is synonymous with “base analog”, for example, "modified cytosine” is synonymous with “cytosine analog.”
  • modified nucleosides or nucleotides are herein defined as being synonymous with nucleoside or nucleotide “analogs.”
  • base modifications include, but are not limited to, addition of an electron-withdrawing moiety to C-5 and or C-6 of a cytosine of the ISS.
  • the electron- withdrawing moiety is a halogen.
  • Modified cytosines can include, but are not limited to, azacytosine, 5-bromocytosine, 5-chlorocytosine, chlorinated cytosine, cyclocytosine, cytosine arabinoside, 5-fluorocytosine, fluoropyrimidine, 5,6- dihydrocytosine, 5-iodocytosine, hydroxyurea, 5-nitrocytosine, 5-hydroxycytosine and any other pyrimidine analog or modified pyrimidine.
  • Preferred modified uracils are modified at C-5 and or C-6, preferably with a halogen, and include, but are not limited to, bromouracil such as 5-bromouracil, chlorouracil such as 5-chlorouracil, fluorouracil such as 5- fluorouracil, iodouracil such as 5-iodouracil, and hydroxyuracil. Also see, Kandimalla et al., 2001, Bioorg. Med. Chem. 9:807-813. See, for example, International Patent Application No. WO 99/62923.
  • base modifications include the addition of one or more thiol groups to the base including, but not limited to, 6-tMo-gu ⁇ nine, 4-thio- thymine and 4-thio-uracil. Additionally, some oligonucleotides may comprise modified bases such as 7-deazaguanosine in place of any guanosine residue, or a modified cytosine selected from N-4-ethylcytosine or N-4-methylcytosine in place of any cytosine residue, including the cytosine of the 5'-CG-3'.
  • base-modified nucleosides and the synthesis of modified oligonucleotides using said base-modified nucleosides as precursors, has been described, for example, in U.S. Patents 4,910,300, 4,948,882, and 5,093,232. These base-modified nucleosides have been designed so that they can be incorporated by chemical synthesis into either terminal or internal positions of an oligonucleotide. Such base-modified nucleosides, present at either terminal or internal positions of an oligonucleotide, can serve as sites for attachment of a peptide or other antigen.
  • Nucleosides modified in their sugar moiety have also been described (including, but not limited to, e.g., U.S. Patents 4,849,513, 5,015,733, 5,118,800, 5,118,802) and can be used similarly.
  • ISS have been described in the art and may be readily identified using standard assays which indicate various aspects of the immune response, such as cytokine secretion, antibody production, NK cell activation and T cell proliferation. See, e.g., WO 97/28259; WO 98/16247; WO 99/11275; Krieg et al. (1995) Nature 374:546-549; Yamamoto et al. (1992a); Ballas et al. (1996); Klinman et al.
  • oligonucleotide One property of an oligonucleotide is the "isolated immunomodulatory activity" associated with the nucleotide sequence of the oligonucleotide. As noted above, the present inventors have discovered that, surprisingly, IMP/MC complexes exhibit immunomodulatory activity even when the oligonucleotide has a sequence that, if presented as an oligonucleotide alone, does not exhibit comparable immunomodulatory activity.
  • an oligonucleotide of an IMP/MC complex does not have "isolated immunomodulatory activity,” or has “inferior isolated immunomodulatory activity,” (i.e., when compared to the IMP/MC complex), as described below.
  • the "isolated immunomodulatory activity" of an oligonucleotide is determined by measuring the immunomodulatory activity of an isolated oligonucleotide having the same nucleic acid backbone (e.g., phosphorothioate, phosphodiester, chimeric). To determine the independent immunomodulatory activity of, for example, an oligonucleotide in the IMP/MC complex, a test oligonucleotide having the same sequence (e.g., 5'-TCGTCGA-3') and same backbone structure (e.g., phosphorothioate) is synthesized using routine methods, and its immunomodulatory activity (if any) is measured.
  • nucleic acid backbone e.g., phosphorothioate, phosphodiester, chimeric
  • a test oligonucleotide having the same sequence e.g., 5'-TCGTCGA-3'
  • same backbone structure e.g., phosphorothioate
  • Immunomodulatory activity can be determined using standard assays which indicate various aspects of the immune response, such as those described herein.
  • the human PBMC assay described herein is used. To account for donor variation, typically the assay is carried out in multiple donors.
  • An oligonucleotide does not have "isolated immunomodulatory activity" when the amount of IFN- ⁇ secreted by PBMCs contacted with the oligonucleotide is not significantly greater (e.g., less than about 2-fold greater) in the majority of donors than in the absence of the test compound or, (in some embodiments) in the presence of an inactive control compound (e.g., 5'-TGACTGTGAACCTTAGAGATGA-3' (SEQ ID NO: (1)).
  • an inactive control compound e.g., 5'-TGACTGTGAACCTTAGAGATGA-3' (SEQ ID NO: (1)).
  • immunomodulatory activity is measured, preferably, but not necessarily, using the human PBMC assay.
  • the activity of two compounds is compared by assaying them in parallel under the same conditions (e.g., using the same cells), usually at a concentration of about 20 ⁇ g/ml.
  • concentration or weight can be measured by other methods known in the art.
  • an oligonucleotide of an IMP/MC complex is characterized as having "inferior immunomodulatory activity," when the test oligonucleotide has less activity than the IMP/MC complex to which it is compared.
  • the isolated immunomodulatory activity of the test oligonucleotide is no more than about 50% of the activity of the IMP/MC complex, more preferably no more than about 20%, most preferably no more than about 10% of the activity of the IMP/MC complex, or in some embodiments, even less.
  • Microcarriers useful in the invention are less than about 150, 120 or 100 ⁇ in size , more commonly less than about 50-60 ⁇ m in size, preferably less than about 10 ⁇ m in size, and are insoluble in pure water.
  • Microcarriers used in the invention are preferably biodegradable, although nonbiodegradable microcarriers are acceptable.
  • Microcarriers are commonly solid phase, such as "beads" or other particles, although liquid phase microcarriers such as oil in water emulsions comprising a biodegradable polymers or oils are also contemplated.
  • a wide variety of biodegradable and nonbiodegradable materials acceptable for use as microcarriers are known in the art.
  • Microcarriers for use in the compositions or methods of the invention are generally less than about 10 ⁇ m in size (e.g., have an average diameter of less than about 10 ⁇ m, or at least about 97% of the particles pass through a 10 ⁇ m screen filter), and include nanocarriers (i.e., carriers of less than about 1 ⁇ m size).
  • microcarriers are selected having sizes within an upper limit of about 9, 7, 5, 2, or 1 ⁇ m or 900, 800, 700, 600, 500, 400, 300, 250, 200, or 100 nm and an independently selected lower limit of about 4, 2, or 1 ⁇ m or about 800, 600, 500, 400, 300, 250, 200, 150, 100, 50, 25, or 10 nm, where the lower limit is less than the upper limit.
  • the microcarriers have a size of about 1.0-1.5 ⁇ m, about 1.0-2.0 ⁇ m or about 0.9-1.6 ⁇ m.
  • the microcarriers have a size of about 10 nm to about 5 ⁇ m or about 25 nm to about 4.5 ⁇ m, about 1 ⁇ m, about 1.2 ⁇ m, about 1.4 ⁇ m, about 1.5 ⁇ m, about 1.6 ⁇ m, about 1.8 ⁇ m, about 2.0 ⁇ m, about 2.5 ⁇ m or about 4.5 ⁇ m.
  • the microcarriers are nanocarriers
  • preferred embodiments include nanocarriers of about 25 to about 300 nm, 50 to about 200 nm, about 50 nm or about 200 nm.
  • Solid phase biodegradable microcarriers may be manufactured from biodegradable polymers including, but not limited to: biodegradable polyesters, such as poly(lactic acid), poly(glycolic acid), and copolymers (including block copolymers) thereof, as well as block copolymers of poly(lactic acid) and poly(ethylene glycol); polyorthoesters such as polymers based on 3,9-diethylidene-2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro[5.5]undecane (DETOSU); polyanhydrides such as poly(anhydride) polymers based on relatively hydrophilic monomers such as sebacic acid; polyanhydride imides, such as polyanhydride polymers based on sebacic acid-derived monomers incorporating amino acids (i.e., linked to sebacic acid by imide bonds through the amino-terminal nitrogen) such as glycine or alanine; polyanhydride esters; polyphosphazenes, especially poly(phosphazenes
  • microcarriers A wide variety of nonbiodegradable materials suitable for manufacturing microcarriers are also known, including, but not limited to polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, latex, gold, and ferromagnetic or paramagnetic materials. Certain embodiments exclude gold, latex, and/or magnetic beads.
  • the microcarriers may be made of a first material (e.g., a magnetic material) encapsulated with a second material (e.g., polystyrene).
  • Solid phase microspheres are prepared using techniques known in the art. For example, they can be prepared by emulsion-solvent extraction/evaporation technique. Generally, in this technique, biodegradable polymers such as polyanhydrates, poly(alkyl- ⁇ - cyanoacrylates) and poly( ⁇ -hydroxy esters), for example, poly(lactic acid), poly(glycolic acid), poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) and poly(caprolactone), are dissolved in a suitable organic solvent, such as methylene chloride, to constitute the dispersed phase (DP) of emulsion.
  • biodegradable polymers such as polyanhydrates, poly(alkyl- ⁇ - cyanoacrylates) and poly( ⁇ -hydroxy esters), for example, poly(lactic acid), poly(glycolic acid), poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) and poly(caprolactone)
  • a suitable organic solvent such as methylene chloride
  • DP is emulsified by high-speed homogenization into excess volume of aqueous continuous phase (CP) that contains a dissolved surfactant, for example, polyvinylalcohol (PVA) or polyvinylpirrolidone (PVP).
  • CP aqueous continuous phase
  • surfactant in CP is to ensure the formation of discrete and suitably-sized emulsion droplet.
  • the organic solvent is then extracted into the CP and subsequently evaporated by raising the system temperature.
  • the solid microparticles are then separated by centrifugation or filtration, and dried, for example, by lyophilization or application of vaccum, before storing at 4 °C.
  • Size characteristics such as mean size, size distribution and surface charge of dried microspheres may be determined. Size characteristics are determined, for example, by dynamic light scattering technique and the surface charge was determined by measuring the zeta potential.
  • Liquid phase microcarriers include liposomes, micelles, oil droplets and other lipid or oil-based particles which incorporate biodegradable polymers or oils.
  • the biodegradable polymer is a surfactant.
  • the liquid phase microcarriers are biodegradable due to the inclusion of a biodegradable oil such as squalene or a vegetable oil.
  • One preferred liquid phase microcarrier is oil droplets within an oil-in-water emulsion.
  • oil-in-water emulsions used as microcarriers comprise biodegradable substituents such as squalene.
  • IMP/MC complexes may be prepared which comprise antigen or which are antigen-free, . e. , IMP/MC complexes not linked to an antigen. Any antigen may be used in the preparation of IMP/MC complexes comprising antigen.
  • the antigen is an allergen.
  • examples of recombinant allergens are provided in Table 1. Preparation of many allergens is well-known in the art, including, but not limited to, preparation of ragweed pollen allergen Antigen E (Amb al) (Rafhar et al. (1991) J. Biol Chem. 266:1229-1236), major dust mite allergens Der pi and Der PII (Chua et al. (1988) J Exp. Med. 167:175-182; Chua et al. (1990) Int. Arch. Allergy Appl Immunol. 91:124-129), white birch pollen Bet vl (Breiteneder et al.
  • the allergen is a food allergen such as peanut allergen, for example Ara h I, and in some embodiments, the allergen is a grass allergen such as a rye allergen, for example Lol p 1.
  • Table 1 shows a list of allergens that may be used.
  • the antigen is from an infectious agent, including protozoan, bacterial, fungal (including unicellular and multicellular), and viral infectious agents.
  • infectious agent including protozoan, bacterial, fungal (including unicellular and multicellular), and viral infectious agents.
  • suitable viral antigens are described herein and are known in the art.
  • Bacteria include Hemophilus influenza, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Bordetella pertussis.
  • Protozoan infectious agents include malarial plasmodia, Leishmania species, Trypanosoma species and Schistosoma species.
  • Fungi include Candida albicans.
  • the antigen is a viral antigen.
  • Viral polypeptide antigens include, but are not limited to, HIV proteins such as HIV gag proteins (including, but not limited to, membrane anchoring (MA) protein, core capsid (CA) protein and nucleocapsid (NC) protein), HIV polymerase, influenza virus matrix (M) protein and influenza virus nucleocapsid (NP) protein, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B core protein (HBcAg), hepatitis e protein (HBeAg), hepatitis B DNA polymerase, hepatitis C antigens, and the like.
  • HIV proteins such as HIV gag proteins (including, but not limited to, membrane anchoring (MA) protein, core capsid (CA) protein and nucleocapsid (NC) protein), HIV polymerase, influenza virus matrix (M) protein and influenza virus nucleocapsid (NP) protein, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg
  • antigen polypeptides are group- or sub-group specific antigens, which are known for a number of infectious agents, including, but not limited to, adenovirus, herpes simplex virus, papilloma virus, respiratory syncytial virus and poxviruses.
  • immunomodulatory peptides can include tumor cells (live or irradiated), tumor cell extracts, or protein subunits of tumor antigens such as Her-2/neu, Marti, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), gangliosides, human milk fat globule (HMFG), mucin (MUCl), MAGE antigens, BAGE antigens, GAGE antigens, gplOO, prostate specific antigen (PSA), and tyrosinase.
  • Vaccines for immuno-based contraception can be formed by including sperm proteins administered with ISS. Lea et al. (1996) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1307:263.
  • Attenuated and inactivated viruses are suitable for use herein as the antigen. Preparation of these viruses is well-known in the art and many are commercially available (see, e.g., Physicians' Desk Reference (1998) 52nd edition, Medical Economics Company, Inc.).
  • polio virus is available as IPOL® (Pasteur Merieux Connaught) and ORIMUNE® (Lederle Laboratories), hepatitis A virus as VAQTA® (Merck), measles virus as ATTENUVAX® (Merck), mumps virus as MUMPSVAX® (Merck) and rubella virus as MERUVAX®II (Merck).
  • Attenuated and inactivated viruses such as HIN-1, HIV-2, herpes simplex virus, hepatitis B virus, rotavirus, human and non-human papillomavirus and slow brain viruses can provide peptide antigens.
  • the antigen comprises a viral vector, such as vaccinia, adenovirus, and canary pox.
  • Antigens may be isolated from their source using purification techniques known in the art or, more conveniently, may be produced using recombinant methods.
  • Antigenic peptides can include purified native peptides, synthetic peptides, recombinant proteins, crude protein extracts, attenuated or inactivated viruses, cells, microorganisms, or fragments of such peptides.
  • Immunomodulatory peptides can be native or synthesized chemically or enzymatically. Any method of chemical synthesis known in the art is suitable. Solution phase peptide synthesis can be used to construct peptides of moderate size or, for the chemical construction of peptides, solid phase synthesis can be employed. Atherton et al. (1981) Hoppe Seylers Z. Physiol. Chem. 362:833-839.
  • Proteolytic enzymes can also be utilized to couple amino acids to produce peptides.
  • the peptide can be obtained by using the biochemical machinery of a cell, or by isolation from a biological source. Recombinant D ⁇ A techniques can be employed for the production of peptides. Hames et al. (1987) Transcription and Translation: A Practical Approach, IRL Press.
  • Peptides can also be isolated using standard techniques such as affinity chromatography.
  • the antigens are peptides, lipids (e.g., sterols excluding cholesterol, fatty acids, and phospholipids), polysaccharides such as those used in H. influenza vaccines, gangliosides and glycoproteins. These can be obtained through several methods known in the art, including isolation and synthesis using chemical and enzymatic methods. In certain cases, such as for many sterols, fatty acids and phospholipids, the antigenic portions of the molecules are commercially available.
  • viral antigens useful in the subject compositions and methods using the compositions include, but are not limited to, HIN antigens.
  • HIN antigens include, but are not limited to, those antigens derived from HIN envelope glycoproteins including, but not limited to, gpl60, gpl20 and gp41.
  • Numerous sequences for HIV genes and antigens are known. For example, the Los Alamos National Laboratory HIV Sequence Database collects, curates and annotates HIV nucleotide and amino acid sequences. This database is accessible via the internet, at http://hiv-web.lanl.gov/, and in a yearly publication, see Human Retroviruses and AIDS Compendium (for example, 1998 edition).
  • Antigens derived from infectious agents may be obtained using methods known in the art, for example, from native viral or bacterial extracts, from cells infected with the infectious agent, from purified polypeptides, from recombinantly produced polypeptides and/or as synthetic peptides.
  • IMP/MC complex formulations may be prepared with other immunotherapeutic agents including, but not limited to, cytokine, adjuvants and antibodies, such as anti-tumor antibodies and derivatives thereof. These IMP/MC complex formulations may be prepared with or without antigen.
  • IMP/MC complexes comprise an heptameric oligonucleotide, comprising a 5'-C, G- 3' sequence, bound to the surface of, or inserted into, a microcarrier (i.e., the heptameric oligonucleotide is not encapsulated in the MC), and preferably comprise multiple molecules of the oligonucleotide bound to each microcarrier.
  • a mixture of different oligonucleotides may be complexed with a microcarrier, such that the microcarrier is bound to more than one oligonucleotide species.
  • the bond between the heptameric oligonucleotide and MC may be covalent or non-covalent.
  • the heptameric oligonucleotide may be modified or derivatized and the composition of the microcarrier may be selected and/or modified to accommodate the desired type of binding desired for IMP/MC complex formation.
  • the instant invention provides methods of making IMP/MC complexes, as well as the products of such methods.
  • IMP/MC complexes are made by combining an oligonucleotide and an MC to form a complex.
  • the specific process for combining the oligonucleotide and MC to form a complex will, of course, depend on the type and features of the MC as well as the mode of conjugation of the oligonucleotide and MC.
  • the IMP/MC complex is preferably made by contacting the oligonucleotide and the MC under conditions which promote complex formation (which will depend on the type of linkage used in the complex).
  • the oligonucleotide may be combined with a preformed MC under conditions which promote complex formation or be combined with the components of the MC prior to formation of the MC.
  • the process of making the MC may incorporate the oligonucleotide, thus resulting in the simultaneous creation of IMP/MC complexes, or when it does not, the process will involve an additional step under conditions which promote complex formation.
  • IMP/MC complexes in accordance with the invention are insoluble in pure water, and IMP/MC complex compositions are preferably free of acetonitrile, dichloroethane, toluene, and methylene chloride (dichlormethane).
  • Covalently bonded IMP/MC complexes may be linked using any covalent crosslinking technology known in the art.
  • the oligonucleotide portion will be modified, either to incorporate an additional moiety (e.g., a free amine, carboxyl or sulfhydryl group) or incorporate modified (e.g., phosphorothioate) nucleotide bases to provide a site at which the oligonucleotide portion may be linked to the microcarrier.
  • the link between the oligonucleotide and MC portions of the complex can be made at the 3' or 5' end of the oligonucleotide, or at a suitably modified base at an internal position in the oligonucleotide.
  • the microcarrier is generally also modified to incorporate moieties through which a covalent link may be formed, although functional groups normally present on the microcarrier may also be utilized.
  • the IMP/MC is formed by incubating the oligonucleotide with a microcarrier under conditions which permit the formation of a covalent complex (e.g., in the presence of a crosslinking agent or by use of an activated microcarrier comprising an activated moiety which will form a covalent bond with the oligonucleotide).
  • crosslinking technologies are known in the art, and include crosslinkers reactive with amino, carboxyl and sulfhydryl groups.
  • crosslinker may be either homobifunctional or heterobifunctional.
  • a homobifunctional crosslinker exploits the same moiety on the oligonucleotide and MC (e.g., an aldehyde crosslinker may be used to covalently link an oligonucleotide and MC where both the oligonucleotide and MC comprise one or more free amines).
  • Heterobifunctional crosslinkers utilize different moieties on the the oligonucleotide and MC, (e.g., a maleimido-N-hydroxysuccimmide ester may be used to covalently link a free sulfhydryl on the oligonucleotide and a free amine on the MC), and are preferred to minimize formation of inter-microcarrier bonds.
  • a maleimido-N-hydroxysuccimmide ester may be used to covalently link a free sulfhydryl on the oligonucleotide and a free amine on the MC
  • One preferred method of producing the IMP/MC complex is by 'activating' the microcarrier by incubating with a heterobifunctional crosslinking agent, then forming the IMP/MC complex by incubating the oligonucleotide and activated MC under conditions appropriate for reaction.
  • the crosslinker may incorporate a "spacer" arm between the reactive moieties, or the two reactive moieties in the crosslinker may be directly linked.
  • the oligonucleotide portion comprises at least one free sulfhydryl (e.g., provided by a 5'-thiol modified base or linker) for crosslinking to the microcarrier, while the microcarrier comprises free amine groups.
  • a heterobifunctional crosslinker reactive with these two groups e.g., a crosslinker comprising a maleimide group and a NHS-ester
  • succinimidyl 4-(N-maleimidomethyl)cyclohexane-l- carboxylate is used to activate the MC, then covalently crosslink the oligonucleotide to form the IMP/MC complex.
  • Non-covalent IMP/MC complexes may be linked by any non-covalent binding or interaction, including ionic (electrostatic) bonds, hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonds, van der Waals attractions, or a combination of two or more different interactions, as is normally the case when a binding pair is to link the oligonucleotide and MC.
  • Preferred non-covalent IMP/MC complexes are typically complexed by hydrophobic or electrostatic (ionic) interactions, or a combination thereof, (e.g. , through base pairing between an oligonucleotide and a polynucleotide bound to an MC use of a binding pair).
  • IMP/MC complexes which rely on hydrophobic interactions to form the complex generally require modification of the oligonucleotide portion of the complex to incorporate a highly hydrophobic moiety.
  • the hydrophobic moiety is biocompatible, nonimmunogenic, and is naturally occurring in the individual for whom the composition is intended (e.g., is found in mammals, particularly humans).
  • preferred hydrophobic moieties include lipids, steroids, sterols such as cholesterol, and terpenes.
  • the method of linking the hydrophobic moiety to the oligonucleotide will, of course, depend on the configuration of the oligonucleotide and the identity of the hydrophobic moiety.
  • the hydrophobic moiety may be added at any convenient site in the oligonucleotide, preferably at either the 5' or 3' end; in the case of addition of a cholesterol moiety to an oligonucleotide, the cholesterol moiety is preferably added to the 5' end of the oligonucleotide, using conventional chemical reactions (see, for example, Godard et al. (1995) Eur. J. Biochem. 232:404-410).
  • microcarriers for use in IMP/MC complexes linked by hydrophobic bonding are made from hydrophobic materials, such as oil droplets or hydrophobic polymers, although hydrophilic materials modified to incorporate hydrophobic moieties may be utilized as well.
  • the microcarrier is a liposome or other liquid phase microcarrier comprising a lumen
  • the IMP/MC complex is formed by mixing the oligonucleotide and the MC after preparation of the MC, in order to avoid encapsulation of the oligonucleotide during the MC preparation process.
  • microcarriers for use in non-covalently bound IMP/MC complexes are generally positively charged (e.g., cationic) at physiological pH (e.g., about pH 6.8-7.4).
  • the microcarrier may intrinsically possess a positive charge, but microcarriers made from compounds not normally possessing a positive charge may be derivatized or otherwise modified to become positively charged (e.g. , cationic).
  • the polymer used to make the microcarrier may be derivatized to add positively charged groups, such as primary amines.
  • microcarriers may comprise a positively charged moiety.
  • cationic lipids or polymers for example, l,2-dioleoyl-l,2,3-trimethylammoniopropane (DOTAP), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) or polylysine, are added either to DP or CP, as per their solubility in these phases.
  • DOTAP l,2-dioleoyl-l,2,3-trimethylammoniopropane
  • CTAB cetyltrimethylammonium bromide
  • polylysine are added either to DP or CP, as per their solubility in these phases.
  • IMP/MC complexes can be preformed by adsorption onto cationic microspheres by incubation of oligonucleotide and the particles, preferably in an aqueous admixture.
  • incubation may be carried out under any desired conditions, including ambient (room) temperature (e.g., approximately 20 °C) or under refrigeration (e.g., 4 °C).
  • ambient (room) temperature e.g., approximately 20 °C
  • refrigeration e.g., 4 °C
  • the incubation may be for any convenient time period, such as 5, 10, 15 minutes or more, including overnight and longer incubations.
  • oligonucleotides containing 5'-CG-3' can be adsorbed onto the cationic microspheres by overnight aqueous incubation of oligonucleotide and the particles at 4 °C.
  • the IMP/MC complex can be formed by simple co-administration of the oligonucleotide and the MC.
  • Microspheres may be characterized for size and surface charge before and after oligonucleotide association. Selected batches may then evaluated for activity against suitable controls in, for example, established human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) and mouse splenocyte assays, as described herein. The formulations may also evaluated in suitable animal models.
  • PBMC peripheral blood mononuclear cell
  • a binding pair may be used to link the oligonucleotide and MC in an IMP/MC complex.
  • the binding pair may be a receptor and ligand, an antibody and antigen (or epitope), or any other binding pair which binds at high affinity (e.g., K d less than about 10 " ).
  • One type of preferred binding pair is biotin and streptavidin or biotin and avidin, which form very tight complexes.
  • IMP/MC complex embodiments do not include an antigen, and certain embodiments exclude antigen(s) associated with the disease or disorder which is the object of the IMP/MC complex therapy.
  • the oligonucleotide is also bound to one or more antigen molecules.
  • Antigen may be coupled with the oligonucleotide portion of an IMP/MC complex in a variety of ways, including covalent and/or non- covalent interactions, as described, for example, in WO 98/16247. Alternately, the antigen may be linked to the microcarrier (either directly or indirectly).
  • Linkage of the antigen to the microcarrier can be accomplished by any of a large number of methods known in the art, including, but not limited to, direct covalent linkage, covalent conjugation via a crosslinker moiety (which may include a spacer arm), noncovalent conjugation via a specific binding pair (e.g., biotin and avidin), and noncovalent conjugation via electrostatic or hydrophobic bonding.
  • a crosslinker moiety which may include a spacer arm
  • noncovalent conjugation via a specific binding pair e.g., biotin and avidin
  • electrostatic or hydrophobic bonding e.g., electrostatic or hydrophobic bonding
  • the link between the antigen and the oligonucleotide in IMP/MC complexes comprising an antigen bound to the oligonucleotide can be made at the 3' or 5' end of the oligonucleotide, or at a suitably modified base at an internal position in the oligonucleotide.
  • the antigen is a peptide and contains a suitable reactive group (e.g., an N- hydroxysuccinimide ester) it can be reacted directly with the N 4 amino group of cytosine residues.
  • a suitable reactive group e.g., an N- hydroxysuccinimide ester
  • modified nucleosides or nucleotides can be incorporated at either terminus, or at internal positions in the oligonucleotide.
  • These can contain blocked functional groups which, when deblocked, are reactive with a variety of functional groups which can be present on, or attached to, the antigen of interest.
  • this portion of the conjugate can be attached to the 3 '-end of the oligonucleotide through solid support chemistry.
  • the oligonucleotide portion can be added to a polypeptide portion that has been pre-synthesized on a support. Haralambidis et al. (1990a) Nucleic Acids Res. 18:493-499; and Haralambidis et al. (1990b) Nucleic Acids Res. 18:501-505.
  • the oligonucleotide can be synthesized such that it is connected to a solid support through a cleavable linker extending from the 3 '-end.
  • a terminal thiol group is left at the 3 '-end of the oligonucleotide (Zuckermann et al. (1987) Nucleic Acids Res. 15:5305-5321; and Corey et al. (1987) Science 238:1401-1403) or a terminal amino group is left at the 3 '-end of the oligonucleotide (Nelson et al. (1989) Nucleic Acids Res. 17:1781-1794). Conjugation of the amino-modified oligonucleotide to amino groups of the peptide can be performed as described in Benoit et al.
  • the peptide portion of the conjugate can be attached to the 5'-end of the oligonucleotide through an amine, thiol, or carboxyl group that has been incorporated into the oligonucleotide during its synthesis.
  • a linking group comprising a protected amine, thiol, or carboxyl at one end, and a phosphoramidite at the other, is covalently attached to the 5'-hydroxyl.
  • An oligonucleotide-antigen conjugate can also be formed through non-covalent interactions, such as ionic bonds, hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonds and/or van der Waals attractions.
  • Non-covalently linked conjugates can include a non-covalent interaction such as a biotin-streptavidin complex.
  • a biotinyl group can be attached, for example, to a modified base of an oligonucleotide. Roget et al. (1989) Nucleic Acids Res. 17:7643-7651. Incorporation of a streptavidin moiety into the peptide portion allows formation of a non- covalently bound complex of the streptavidin conjugated peptide and the biotinylated oligonucleotide.
  • Non-covalent associations can also occur through ionic interactions involving an oligonucleotide and residues within the antigen, such as charged amino acids, or through the use of a linker portion comprising charged residues that can interact with both the oligonucleotide and the antigen.
  • non-covalent conjugation can occur between a generally negatively-charged oligonucleotide and positively-charged amino acid residues of a peptide, e.g., polylysine, polyarginine and polyhistidine residues.
  • Non-covalent conjugation between oligonucleotide and antigens can occur through DNA binding motifs of molecules that interact with DNA as their natural ligands.
  • DNA binding motifs can be found in transcription factors and anti-DNA antibodies.
  • the linkage of the oligonucleotide to a lipid can be formed using standard methods. These methods include, but are not limited to, the synthesis of oligonucleotide- phospholipid conjugates (Yanagawa et al. (1988) Nucleic Acids Symp. Ser. 19:189-192), oligonucleotide-fatty acid conjugates (Grabarek et al. (1990) Anal. Biochem. 185:131-135; and Staros et al. (1986) Anal. Biochem. 156:220-222), and oligonucleotide-sterol conjugates. Boujrad et al. (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:5728-5731.
  • the linkage of the oligonucleotide to an oligosaccharide can be formed using standard known methods. These methods include, but are not limited to, the synthesis of oligonucleotide-oligosaccharide conjugates, wherein the oligosaccharide is a moiety of an immunoglobulin. O'Shannessy et al. (1985) J. Applied Biochem. 7:347-355.
  • the linkage of a circular oligonucleotide to a peptide or antigen can be formed in several ways. Where the circular oligonucleotide is synthesized using recombinant or chemical methods, a modified nucleoside is suitable. Ruth (1991), pp. 255-282, in Oligonucleotides and Analogues: A Practical Approach, IRL Press. Standard linking technology can then be used to connect the circular oligonucleotide to the antigen or other peptide. Goodchild (1990) 5r ⁇ co « wg. Chem. 1:165.
  • the linkage can be formed by chemically activating, or photoactivating, a reactive group (e.g. carbene, radical) that has been incorporated into the antigen or other peptide.
  • a reactive group e.g. carbene, radical
  • the invention provides methods of modulating an immune response in an individual, preferably a mammal, more preferably a human, comprising administering to the individual an IMP/MC complex (typically in a composition comprising the complex and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient) such that the desired modulation of the immune response is achieved.
  • Immunomodulation may include stimulating a Thl -type immune response and/or inhibiting or reducing a Th2-type immune response.
  • modulation of an immune response may be humoral and/or cellular, and is measured using standard techniques in the art and as described herein.
  • the immune modulation comprises stimulating a (i.e., one or more) Thl -associated cytokine, such as IFN- ⁇ , IL-12 and/or IFN- ⁇ . In some embodiments, the immune modulation comprises suppressing production of a (i.e., one or more) Th2- associated cytokine, such as IL-4 and or IL-5. Measuring these parameters uses methods standard in the art and has been discussed herein.
  • administration of IMP/MC may further comprise administration of one or more additional immunotherapeutic agents (i.e., an agent which acts via the immune system and/or is derived from the immune system) including, but not limited to, cytokine, adjuvants and antibodies.
  • additional immunotherapeutic agents i.e., an agent which acts via the immune system and/or is derived from the immune system
  • cytokine a protein derived from the immune system
  • therapeutic antibodies include those used in the cancer context (e.g., anti-tumor antibodies).
  • Administration of such additional immunotherapeutic agents applies to all the methods described herein.
  • the individual suffers from a disorder associated with a Th2-type immune response, such as allergies or allergy-induced asthma.
  • a disorder associated with a Th2-type immune response such as allergies or allergy-induced asthma.
  • Administration of an IMP/MC complex results in immunomodulation, increasing levels of one or more Thl- type response associated cytokines, which may result in a reduction of the Th2-type response features associated with the individual's response to the allergen.
  • Immunomodulation of individuals with Th2-type response associated disorders results in a reduction or improvement in one or more of the symptoms of the disorder.
  • improvement in one or more of the symptoms includes a reduction one or more of the following: rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, circulating levels of IgE, circulating levels of histamine and/or requirement for 'rescue' inhaler therapy (e.g. , inhaled albuterol administered by metered dose inhaler or nebulizer).
  • the individual subject to the immunomodulatory therapy of the invention is an individual receiving a vaccine.
  • the vaccine may be a prophylactic vaccine or a therapeutic vaccine.
  • a prophylactic vaccine comprises one or more epitopes associated with a disorder for which the individual may be at risk (e.g., M. tuberculosis antigens as a vaccine for prevention of tuberculosis).
  • Therapeutic vaccines comprise one or more epitopes associated with a particular disorder affecting the individual, such as M. tuberculosis or M.
  • the IMP/MC complex may be given in conjunction with the vaccine (e.g., in the same injection or a contemporaneous, but separate, injection) or the IMP/MC complex may be administered separately (e.g., at least 12 hours before or after administration of the vaccine).
  • the antigen(s) of the vaccine is part of the IMP/MC complex, by either covalent or noncovalent linkage to the IMP/MC complex.
  • EVIP/MC complex therapy results in an immune response to the vaccine that is shifted towards a Thl -type response as compared to individuals which receive vaccine without IMP/MC complex. Shifting towards a Thl -type response may be recognized by a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to the antigen(s) in the vaccine, increased IFN- ⁇ and other Thl -type response associated cytokines, increased IFN- ⁇ , production of CTLs specific for the antigen(s) of the vaccine, low or reduced levels of IgE specific for the antigen(s) of the vaccine, a reduction in Th2-associated antibodies specific for the antigen(s) of the vaccine, and/or an increase in Thl -associated antibodies specific for the antigen(s) of the vaccine.
  • DTH delayed-type hypersensitivity
  • IMP/MC complex and vaccine also results in amelioration of the symptoms of the disorder which the vaccine is intended to treat.
  • the exact symptoms and manner of their improvement will depend on the disorder sought to be treated.
  • the therapeutic vaccine is for tuberculosis
  • IMP/MC complex treatment with vaccine results in reduced coughing, pleural or chest wall pain, fever, and/or other symptoms known in the art.
  • the vaccine is an allergen used in allergy desensitization therapy
  • the treatment results in a reduction in one or more symptoms of allergy (e.g., reduction in rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, circulating levels of IgE, and/or circulating levels of histamine).
  • inventions relate to immunomodulatory therapy of individuals having a pre-existing disease or disorder, such as cancer or an infectious disease.
  • Cancer is an attractive target for immunomodulation because most cancers express tumor-associated and/or tumor specific antigens which are not found on other cells in the body. Stimulation of a Thl -type response against tumor cells results in direct and/or bystander killing of tumor cells by the immune system, leading to a reduction in cancer cells and a reduction in symptoms.
  • Administration of an IMP/MC complex to an individual having cancer results in stimulation of a Thl -type immune response against the tumor cells.
  • Such an immune response can kill tumor cells, either by direct action of cellular immune system cells (e.g., CTLs) or components of the humoral immune system, or by bystander effects on cells proximal to cells targeted by the immune system.
  • administration of IMP/MC complex may further comprise administration of one or more additional therapeutic agents such as, for example, anti-tumor antibodies, chemotherapy regimens and/or radiation treatments.
  • Anti-tumor antibodies including, but not limited to anti-tumor antibody fragments and/or derivatives thereof, and monoclonal anti-tumor antibodies, fragments and/or derivatives thereof, are known in the art as is administration of such antibody reagents in cancer therapy (e.g., Rituxan® (rituximab); Herceptin® (trastuzumab)).
  • Admimstration of one or more additional therapeutic agents may occur before, after and/or concurrent with administation of the IMP/MC complexes.
  • Immunomodulatory therapy in accordance with the invention is also useful for individuals with infectious diseases, particularly infectious diseases which are resistant to humoral immune responses (e.g., diseases caused by mycobacterial infections and intracellular pathogens).
  • Immunomodulatory therapy may be used for the treatment of infectious diseases caused by cellular pathogens (e.g., bacteria or protozoans) or by subcellular pathogens (e.g. , viruses).
  • IMP/MC complex therapy may be administered to individuals suffering from mycobacterial diseases such as tuberculosis (e.g., M. tuberculosis and/or M. bovis infections), leprosy (i.e., M. leprae infections), or M. marinum or M. ulcerans infections.
  • IMP/MC complex therapy is also useful for the treatment of viral infections, including infections by influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSN), hepatitis virus B, hepatitis virus C, herpes viruses, particularly herpes simplex viruses, and papilloma viruses.
  • Diseases caused by intracellular parasites such as malaria (e.g., infection by Plasmodium vivax, P. ovale, P. falciparum and/or P. malariae), leishmaniasis (e.g., infection by Leishmania donovani, L. tropica, L. mexicana, L. braz ⁇ liensis, L. peruviana, L. infantum, L. chagasi, and/or L.
  • malaria e.g., infection by Plasmodium vivax, P. ovale, P. falciparum and/or P. malariae
  • leishmaniasis e.g., infection by Leishmania donovani, L. tropica, L
  • IMP/MC therapy is also useful for treatment of parasitic diseases such as schistosomiasis (i.e., infection by blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma such as S. haematobium, S. mansoni, S. japonicum, and S. mekongi) and clonorchiasis (i.e., infection by Clonorchis sinensis).
  • schistosomiasis i.e., infection by blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma such as S. haematobium, S. mansoni, S. japonicum, and S. mekongi
  • clonorchiasis i.e., infection by Clonorchis sinensis.
  • Administration of an IMP/MC complex to an individual suffering from an infectious disease results in an amelioration of one or more symptoms of the infectious disease.
  • the infectious disease is not a viral disease.
  • the invention further provides methods of increasing at least one Thl -associated cytokine in an individual, including IL-2, IL-12, T ⁇ F- ⁇ , and IF ⁇ - ⁇ .
  • the invention provides methods of increasing IF ⁇ - ⁇ in an individual, particularly in an individual in need of increased IF ⁇ - ⁇ levels, by administering an effective amount of an IMP/MC complex to the individual.
  • Individuals in need of increased IF ⁇ - ⁇ are those having disorders which respond to the administration of IF ⁇ - ⁇ . Such disorders include a number of inflammatory disorders including, but not limited to, ulcerative colitis.
  • Such disorders also include a number of fibrotic disorders, including, but not limited to, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), scleroderma, cutaneous radiation- induced fibrosis, hepatic fibrosis including schistosomiasis-induced hepatic fibrosis, renal fibrosis as well as other conditions which may be improved by administration of IF ⁇ - ⁇ .
  • Administration of IMP/MC complex in accordance with the invention results in an increase in IF ⁇ - ⁇ levels, and results in amelioration of one or more symptoms, stabilization of one or more symptoms, or prevention of progression (e.g., reduction or elimination of additional lesions or symptoms) of the disorder which responds to IF ⁇ - ⁇ .
  • the methods of the invention may be practiced in combination with other therapies which make up the standard of care for the disorder, such as administration of anti-inflammatory agents such as systemic corticosteroid therapy (e.g., cortisone) in IPF.
  • the invention provides methods of increasing IFN- ⁇ in an individual, particularly in an individual in need of increased IFN- ⁇ levels, by administering an effective amount of an IMP/MC complex to the individual such that IFN- ⁇ levels are increased.
  • Individuals in need of increased IFN- ⁇ are those having disorders which respond to the administration of IFN- ⁇ , including recombinant IFN- ⁇ , including, but not limited to, viral infections and cancer.
  • administering results in an increase in IFN- ⁇ levels, and results in amelioration of one or more symptoms, stabilization of one or more symptoms, or prevention of progression (e.g., reduction or elimination of additional lesions or symptoms) of the disorder which responds to IFN- ⁇ .
  • the methods of the invention may be practiced in combination with other therapies which make up the standard of care for the disorder, such as administration of anti- viral agents for viral infections.
  • Reduction in IgE results in an amelioration of symptoms of the IgE-related disorder.
  • symptoms include allergy symptoms such as rhinitis, conjunctivitis, in decreased sensitivity to allergens, a reduction in the symptoms of allergy in an individual with allergies, or a reduction in severity of a allergic response.
  • IMP/MC complex therapy may be administered in conjunction with anti-malarial drugs such as chloroquine for malaria patients, in conjunction with leishmanicidal drugs such as pentamidine and/or allopurinol for leishmaniasis patients, in conjunction with anti-mycobacterial drugs such as isoniazid, rifampin and/or ethambutol in tuberculosis patients, or in conjunction with allergen desensitization therapy for atopic (allergy) patients.
  • anti-malarial drugs such as chloroquine for malaria patients
  • leishmanicidal drugs such as pentamidine and/or allopurinol for leishmaniasis patients
  • anti-mycobacterial drugs such as isoniazid, rifampin and/or ethambutol in tuberculosis patients
  • allergen desensitization therapy for atopic (allergy) patients.
  • the IMP/MC complex can be administered in combination with other pharmaceutical and/or immunogenic and/or immunostimulatory agents and can be combined with a physiologically acceptable carrier thereof. Accordingly, the IMP/MC complex can be administered in conjunction with other immunotherapeutic agents including, but not limited to, cytokine, adjuvants and antibodies.
  • the IMP/MC complex may comprise any combination of the oligonucleotides and MCs described above, so long as the IMP/MC is active.
  • an IMP/MC complex will be considered active if it has an activity (i.e., affects a measurable immune response as measured in vitro, in vivo and/or ex vivo) of at least about two times, preferably at least about three times, more preferably at least about five times, even more preferably at least about ten times the activity of a negative control in at least one assay of activity.
  • an activity i.e., affects a measurable immune response as measured in vitro, in vivo and/or ex vivo
  • Methods of assessing a measurable immune response are well known in the art, and include the human PBMC assay disclosed herein.
  • the oligonucleotide of the IMP/MC complexes may be any of those described above.
  • the heptameric oligonucleotide administered comprises the sequence 5'- T, C, G-3'.
  • Another preferred embodiment uses a polynucleotide comprising the sequence 5'-CG-3' and futher comprising the sequence 5'-TCG-3'.
  • Another preferred embodiment uses an oligonucleotide consisting of the sequence selected from the group consisting of 5'- and wherein X X 2 , X 3 , X 4 are nucleotides.
  • the immunologically effective amounts and method of administration of the particular IMP/MC complex formulation can vary based on the individual, what condition is to be treated and other factors evident to one skilled in the art. Factors to be considered include the antigenicity, whether or not the IMP/MC complex will be administered with or covalently attached to an adjuvant or delivery molecule, route of administration and the number of immunizing doses to be administered. Such factors are known in the art and it is well within the skill of those in the art to make such determinations without undue experimentation.
  • a suitable dosage range is one that provides the desired modulation of immune response to the antigen.
  • dosage is determined by the amount of oligonucleotide administered to the patient, rather than the overall quantity of IMP/MC complex.
  • Useful dosage ranges of the IMP/MC complex, given in amounts of oligonucleotide delivered may be, for example, from about any of the following: 0.1 to 100 ⁇ g/kg, 0.1 to 50 ⁇ g/kg, 0.1 to 25 ⁇ g/kg, 0.1 to 10 ⁇ g/kg, 1 to 500 ⁇ g/kg, 100 to 400 ⁇ g/kg, 200 to 300 ⁇ g/kg, 1 to 100 ⁇ g/kg, 100 to 200 ⁇ g/kg, 300 to 400 ⁇ g/kg, 400 to 500 ⁇ g/kg.
  • the doses can be about any of the following: 0.1 ⁇ g, 0.25 ⁇ g, 0.5 ⁇ g, 1.0 ⁇ g, 2.0 ⁇ g, 5.0 ⁇ g, 10 ⁇ g, 25 ⁇ g, 50 ⁇ g, 75 ⁇ g, 100 ⁇ g. Accordingly, dose ranges can be those with a lower limit about any of the following: 0.1 ⁇ g, 0.25 ⁇ g, 0.5 ⁇ g and 1.0 ⁇ g; and with an upper limit of about any of the following: 25 ⁇ g, 50 ⁇ g and 100 ⁇ g.
  • the absolute amount given to each patient depends on pharmacological properties such as bioavailability, clearance rate and route of administration.
  • the effective amount and method of administration of the particular IMP/MC complex formulation can vary based on the individual patient and the stage of the disease and other factors evident to one skilled in the art.
  • the route(s) of administration useful in a particular application are apparent to one of skill in the art.
  • Routes of administration include but are not limited to topical, dermal, transdermal, transmucosal, epidermal, parenteral, gastrointestinal, and naso-pharyngeal and pulmonary, including transbronchial and transalveolar.
  • a suitable dosage range is one that provides sufficient oligonucleotide composition to attain a tissue concentration of about 1-10 ⁇ M as measured by blood levels.
  • the absolute amount given to each patient depends on pharmacological properties such as bioavailability, clearance rate and route of admimstration.
  • APCs and tissues with high concentration of APCs are preferred targets for the IMP/MC complexes.
  • administration of IMP/MC complex to mammalian skin and/or mucosa, where APCs are present in relatively high concentration is preferred.
  • the present invention provides IMP/MC complex formulations suitable for topical application including, but not limited to, physiologically acceptable implants, ointments, creams, rinses and gels.
  • Topical administration is, for instance, by a dressing or bandage having dispersed therein a delivery system, by direct administration of a delivery system into incisions or open wounds, or by transdermal administration device directed at a site of interest.
  • Creams, rinses, gels or ointments having dispersed therein an IMP/MC complex are suitable for use as topical ointments or wound filling agents.
  • Preferred routes of dermal administration are those which are least invasive. Preferred among these means are transdermal transmission, epidermal administration and subcutaneous injection. Of these means, epidermal admimstration is preferred for the greater concentrations of APCs expected to be in intradermal tissue.
  • Transdermal administration is accomplished by application of a cream, rinse, gel, etc. capable of allowing the IMP/MC complex to penetrate the skin and enter the blood stream.
  • Compositions suitable for transdermal administration include, but are not limited to, pharmaceutically acceptable suspensions, oils, creams and ointments applied directly to the skin or incorporated into a protective carrier such as a transdermal device (so-called "patch"). Examples of suitable creams, ointments etc. can be found, for instance, in the Physician's Desk Reference.
  • iontophoresis is a suitable method. Iontophoretic transmission can be accomplished using commercially available patches which deliver their product continuously through unbroken skin for periods of several days or more. Use of this method allows for controlled transmission of pharmaceutical compositions in relatively great concentrations, permits infusion of combination drugs and allows for contemporaneous use of an absorption promoter.
  • An exemplary patch product for use in this method is the LECTRO PATCH trademarked product of General Medical Company of Los Angeles, CA. This product electronically maintains reservoir electrodes at neutral pH and can be adapted to provide dosages of differing concentrations, to dose continuously and/or periodically. Preparation and use of the patch should be performed according to the manufacturer's printed instructions which accompany the LECTRO PATCH product; those instructions are incorporated herein by this reference. Other occlusive patch systems are also suitable.
  • low-frequency ultrasonic delivery is also a suitable method.
  • Application of low-frequency ultrasonic frequencies (about 1 MHz) allows the general controlled delivery of therapeutic compositions, including those of high molecular weight.
  • Epidermal administration essentially involves mechanically or chemically irritating the outermost layer of the epidermis sufficiently to provoke an immune response to the irritant. Specifically, the irritation should be sufficient to attract APCs to the site of irritation.
  • An exemplary mechanical irritant means employs a multiplicity of very narrow diameter, short tines which can be used to irritate the skin and attract APCs to the site of irritation, to take up IMP/MC complex transferred from the end of the tines.
  • MONO-VACC old tuberculin test manufactured by Pasteur Merieux of Lyon, France contains a device suitable for introduction of IMP/MC complex-containing compositions.
  • the device (which is distributed in the U.S. by Connaught Laboratories, Inc. of Swiftwater, PA) consists of a plastic container having a syringe plunger at one end and a tine disk at the other.
  • the tine disk supports a multiplicity of narrow diameter tines of a length which will just scratch the outermost layer of epidermal cells.
  • Each of the tines in the MONO-VACC kit is coated with old tuberculin; in the present invention, each needle is coated with a pharmaceutical composition of IMP/MC complex formulation.
  • Use of the device is preferably according to the manufacturer's written instructions included with the device product. Similar devices which can also be used in this embodiment are those which are currently used to perform allergy tests.
  • Another suitable approach to epidermal administration of IMP/MC complex is by use of a chemical which irritates the outermost cells of the epidermis, thus provoking a sufficient immune response to attract APCs to the area.
  • a chemical which irritates the outermost cells of the epidermis thus provoking a sufficient immune response to attract APCs to the area.
  • An example is a keratinolytic agent, such as the salicylic acid used in the commercially available topical depilatory creme sold by Noxema Corporation under the trademark NAIR.
  • the chemical irritant can also be applied in conjunction with the mechanical irritant (as, for example, would occur if the MONO-VACC type tine were also coated with the chemical irritant).
  • the IMP/MC complex can be suspended in a carrier which also contains the chemical irritant or coadministered therewith.
  • Parenteral routes of administration include but are not limited to electrical (iontophoresis) or direct injection such as direct injection into a central venous line, intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intradermal, or subcutaneous injection.
  • IMP/MC formulations suitable for parenteral administration are generally formulated in USP water or water for injection and may further comprise pH buffers, salts bulking agents, preservatives, and other pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.
  • IMP/MC complexes for parenteral injection may be formulated in pharmaceutically acceptable sterile isotonic solutions such as saline and phosphate buffered saline for injection.
  • Gastrointestinal routes of administration include, but are not limited to, ingestion and rectal.
  • the invention includes IMP/MC complex formulations suitable for gastrointestinal administration including, but not limited to, pharmaceutically acceptable powders, pills or liquids for ingestion and suppositories for rectal administration.
  • pills or suppositories will further comprise pharmaceutically acceptable solids, such as starch, to provide bulk for the composition.
  • Naso-pharyngeal and pulmonary administration include are accomplished by inhalation, and include delivery routes such as intranasal, transbronchial and transalveolar routes.
  • the invention includes IMP/MC complex formulations suitable for administration by inhalation including, but not limited to, liquid suspensions for forming aerosols as well as powder forms for dry powder inhalation delivery systems.
  • Devices suitable for administration by inhalation of IMP/MC complex formulations include, but are not limited to, atomizers, vaporizers, nebulizers, and dry powder inhalation delivery devices.
  • the choice of delivery routes can be used to modulate the immune response elicited.
  • IgG titers and CTL activities were identical when an influenza virus vector was administered via intramuscular or epidermal (gene gun) routes; however, the muscular inoculation yielded primarily IgG2a, while the epidermal route yielded mostly IgGl. Pertmer et al. (1996) J. Virol 70:6119-6125.
  • one skilled in the art can take advantage of slight differences in immunogenicity elicited by different routes of administering the immunomodulatory oligonucleotides of the present invention.
  • compositions and methods of administration are meant to describe but not limit the methods of administering the IMP/MC complex formulations of the invention.
  • methods of producing the various compositions and devices are within the ability of one skilled in the art and are not described in detail here.
  • Analysis (both qualitative and quantitative) of the immune response to IMP/MC complex formulations can be by any method known in the art, including, but not limited to, measuring antigen-specific antibody production (including measuring specific antibody subclasses), activation of specific populations of lymphocytes such as CD4+ T cells or NK cells, production of cytokines such as IFN- ⁇ , IFN- ⁇ , IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 or IL-12 and/or release of histamine.
  • Methods for measuring specific antibody responses include enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and are well known in the art.
  • Measurement of numbers of specific types of lymphocytes such as CD4+ T cells can be achieved, for example, with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS).
  • Cytotoxicity assays can be performed for instance as described in Raz et al. (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:9519-9523. Cytokine concentrations can be measured, for example, by ELISA. These and other assays to evaluate the immune response to an immunogen are well known in the art. See, for example, Selected Methods in Cellular Immunology (1980) Mishell and Shiigi, eds., W.H. Freeman and Co.
  • a Thl -type response is stimulated, i.e., elicited and/or enhanced.
  • stimulating a Thl -type immune response can be determined in vitro or ex vivo by measuring cytokine production from cells treated with ISS as compared to those treated without ISS. Methods to determine the cytokine production of cells include those methods described herein and any known in the art.
  • the type of cytokines produced in response to ISS treatment indicate a Thl -type or a Th2-type biased immune response by the cells.
  • Thl -type biased cytokine production refers to the measurable increased production of cytokines associated with a Thl -type immune response in the presence of a stimulator as compared to production of such cytokines in the absence of stimulation.
  • Thl -type biased cytokines include, but are not limited to, IL-2, IL-12, and IFN- ⁇ .
  • Th2-type biased cytokines refers to those associated with a Th2-type immune response, and include, but are not limited to, IL-4, IL-5, and IL- 13.
  • Cells useful for the determination of ISS activity include cells of the immune system, primary cells isolated from a host and/or cell lines, preferably APCs and lymphocytes, even more preferably macrophages and T cells.
  • Stimulating a Thl -type immune response can also be measured in a host treated with an IMP/MC complex formulation can be determined by any method known in the art including, but not limited to: (1) a reduction in levels of IL-4 or IL-5 measured before and after antigen-challenge; or detection of lower (or even absent) levels of IL-4 or IL-5 in an IMP/MC complex treated host as compared to an antigen-primed, or primed and challenged, control treated without ISS; (2) an increase in levels of IL-12, IL-18 and/or IFN ( ⁇ , ⁇ or ⁇ ) before and after antigen challenge; or detection of higher levels of IL-12, IL-18 and/or IFN ( ⁇ , ⁇ or ⁇ ) in an IMP/MC complex treated host as compared to an antigen- primed or, primed and challenged, control treated without ISS; (3) "Thl -type biased" antibody production in an IMP/MC complex treated host as compared to a control treated without ISS; and/or (4)
  • a variety of these determinations can be made by measuring cytokines made by APCs and/or lymphocytes, preferably macrophages and/or T cells, in vitro or ex vivo using methods described herein or any known in the art. Some of these determinations can be made by measuring the class and/or subclass of antigen- specific antibodies using methods described herein or any known in the art.
  • Thl -type biased antibody production refers to the measurable increased production of antibodies associated with a Thl -type immune response (i.e., Thl -associated antibodies).
  • Thl associated antibodies may be measured.
  • Thl -type biased antibodies include, but are not limited to, human IgGl and/or IgG3 (see, e.g., Widhe et al. (1998) Scand. J. Immunol. 47:575-581 and de Martino et al. (1999) Ann.
  • Th2-type biased antibodies refers to those associated with a Th2-type immune response, and include, but are not limited to, human IgG2, IgG4 and/or IgE (see, e.g., Widhe et al. (1998) and de Martino et al. (1999)) and murine IgGl and/or IgE.
  • Thl -type biased cytokine induction which occurs as a result of IMP/MC complex administration produces enhanced cellular immune responses, such as those performed by NK cells, cytotoxic killer cells, Thl helper and memory cells. These responses are particularly beneficial for use in protective or therapeutic vaccination against viruses, fungi, protozoan parasites, bacteria, allergic diseases and asthma, as well as tumors.
  • a Th2 response is suppressed.
  • Suppression of a Th2 response may be determined by, for example, reduction in levels of Th2-associated cytokines, such as IL-4 and IL-5, as well as IgE reduction and reduction in histamine release in response to allergen.
  • kits for use in the methods of the invention comprise one or more containers comprising an IMP/MC complex and, optionally, a set of instructions, generally written instructions, relating to the use of the IMP/MC complex for the intended treatment (e.g., immunomodulation, ameliorating one or more symptoms of an infectious disease, increasing IFN- ⁇ levels, increasing IFN- ⁇ levels, or ameliorating an IgE-related disorder).
  • the kits of the invention comprise containers of materials for producing IMP/MC, instructions for producing IMP/MC complex, and, optionally, instructions relating to the use of the IMP/MC complex for the intended treatment.
  • Kits which comprise preformed IMP/MC complex comprise IMP/MC complex packaged in any convenient, appropriate packaging.
  • the IMP/MC complex is a dry formulation (e.g., freeze dried or a dry powder)
  • a vial with a resilient stopper is normally used, so that the IMP/MC complex may be easily resuspen ed by injecting fluid through the resilient stopper.
  • Ampoules with non-resilient, removable closures (e.g., sealed glass) or resilient stoppers are most conveniently used for liquid formulations of IMP/MC complex.
  • packages for use in combination with a specific device such as an inhaler, nasal administration device (e.g., an atomizer) or an infusion device such as a minipump.
  • Kits which comprise materials for production of IMP/MC complex generally include separate containers of oligonucleotide and MC, although in certain embodiments materials for producing the MC are supplied rather than preformed MC.
  • the oligonucleotide and MC are preferably supplied in a form which allows formation of IMP/MC complex upon mixing of the supplied oligonucleotide and MC. This configuration is preferred when the IMP/MC complex is linked by non-covalent bonding. This configuration is also preferred when the oligonucleotide and MC are to be crosslinked via a heterobifunctional crosslinker; either oligonucleotide or the MC is supplied in an "activated" form (e.g. , linked to the heterobifunctional crosslinker such that a moiety reactive with the oligonucleotide is available).
  • Kits for IMP/MC complexes comprising a solid phase MC preferably comprise one or more containers including materials for producing solid phase MC.
  • an IMP/MC kit for cationic MC may comprise one or more containers containing a polymer and a positively charged surfactant. The contents of the container are mixed, for example by emulsification, to produce the cationic MC, which may be then mixed with the oligonucleotide.
  • Such materials include poly(lactic acid)/poly(glycolic acid) copolymers, containers of cationic lipid, for example, DOTAP, plus one or more containers of an aqueous phase (e.g., a pharmaceutically-acceptable aqueous buffer).
  • Kits for IMP/MC complexes comprising a liquid phase MC preferably comprise one or more containers including materials for producing liquid phase MC.
  • an IMP/MC kit for oil-in-water emulsion MC may comprise one or more containers containing an oil phase and an aqueous phase. The contents of the container are emulsified to produce the MC, which may be then mixed with the oligonucleotide, preferably an oligonucleotide which has been modified to incorporate a hydrophobic moiety.
  • Such materials include oil and water, for production of oil-in-water emulsions, or containers of lyophilized liposome components (e.g., a mixture of phospholipid, cholesterol and a surfactant) plus one or more containers of an aqueous phase (e.g., a pharmaceutically- acceptable aqueous buffer).
  • lyophilized liposome components e.g., a mixture of phospholipid, cholesterol and a surfactant
  • an aqueous phase e.g., a pharmaceutically- acceptable aqueous buffer
  • the instructions relating to the use of IMP/MC complex for the intended treatment generally include information as to dosage, dosing schedule, and route of administration for the intended treatment.
  • the containers of oligonucleotide may be unit doses, bulk packages (e.g., multi-dose packages) or sub-unit doses.
  • Instructions supplied in the kits of the invention are typically written instructions on a label or package insert (e.g., a paper sheet included in the kit), but machine-readable instructions (e.g., instructions carried on a magnetic or optical storage disk) are also acceptable.
  • the 7-mer oligonucleotide with the sequence 5'-TCGTCGA-3* (SEQ ID NO:2) with phosphorothioate linkages was synthesized on a Perseptive Biosystems Expedite 8909 automated DNA synthesizer.
  • the manufacturer's protocol for 15 ⁇ mol phosphorothioate DNA was used with the following changes: 1.6 ml of 3% dichloroacetic acid in dichloromethane over 2.5 minutes was used for the detritylation step; and 3.0 ml of 0.02 M 3-amino-l,2,4-dithiazole-5-thione (ADTT) in 9:1 acetonitriIe:pyridine over 1.1 minutes followed by a 1.0 ml delivery over 1.0 minutes was used for the sulfurization step.
  • the nucleoside phosphoramidite monomers were dissolved in anhydrous acetonitrile to a concentration of 0.1 M.
  • the instrument was programmed to add the nucleotide monomers in the desired order, with the synthesis occurring in the 3' to 5' direction.
  • the synthesis cycle consisted of a detritylation step, a coupling step (phosphoramidite monomer plus 1H- tetrazole), a capping step, a sulfurization step, and a final capping step.
  • the 'trityl-on' oligonucleotide was cleaved from the controlled-pore glass and the bases were deprotected with concentrated aqueous ammonia at 58°C for 16 hours.
  • the 7-mer oligonucleotide was purified by RP-HPLC on a Polymer Labs PLRP-S column using an increasing gradient of acetonitrile in 0.1 M triethylammonium acetate.
  • the purified oligonucleotide was concentrated to dryness, the 4,4'-dimethoxytrityl group was removed with 80% aqueous acetic acid, and then the compound was precipitated two times from 0.6 M aqueous sodium acetate/pH 5.0 with 3 volumes of isopropanol.
  • The7- mer oligonucleotide was dissolved in Milli Q water and the yield was determined from the absorbance at 260 nm. Finally, the oligonucleotide was lyophilized to a powder.
  • the 7-mer oligonucleotide was characterized by capillary gel electrophoresis, electrospray mass spectrometry, and RP-HPLC to confirm composition and purity.
  • An endotoxin content assay (LAL assay, Bio Whittaker) was also conducted, showing endotoxin levels were ⁇ 5 EU/mg oligonucleotide.
  • 7-mer phosphorothioate oligonucleotides were synthesized using the same methods, including 5'-ACGTTCG-3' (SEQ ID NO:3), 5'-ATCTCGA-3' (SEQ ID NO:4), 5'- AGATGAT-3* (SEQ ID NO:5), 5*-TCGTTTT-3' (SEQ ID NO:6), 5'-TCGAAAA-3* (SEQ ID NO:7), 5'-TCGCCCC-3' (SEQ ID NO:8) and 5'-TCGGGGG-3* (SEQ ID NO:9).
  • 5'-ACGTTCG-3' SEQ ID NO:3
  • 5'-ATCTCGA-3' SEQ ID NO:4
  • 5'- AGATGAT-3* SEQ ID NO:5
  • 5*-TCGTTTT-3' SEQ ID NO:6
  • 5'-TCGAAAA-3* SEQ ID NO:7
  • 5'-TCGCCCC-3' SEQ ID NO:8
  • the 7-mer phosphorothioate oligonucleotide with the sequence 5'-TCGTCGA-3' was also synthesized with a disulfide linker on the 5'-end to facilitate linkage to the microcarrier.
  • the C6 disulfide linker with a 4,4 , -0-dimethoxytrityl group on one end and a cyanoethylphosphoramidite on the other end (Glen Research) was dissolved to a concentration of 0.1 M in acetonitrile.
  • the linker was coupled to the 5'-end of the oligonucleotide and the resulting oligonucleotide was purified and isolated as described above.
  • the disulfide group on the oligonucleotide was reduced to a thiol before linkage to the microcarriers.
  • the disulfide-oligonucleotide was dissolved to a concentration of 25 mg/ml in 100 mM sodium phosphate/150 mM sodium chloride/1 mM ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA)/pH 7.5 buffer. Then 5 equivalents of the hydrochloride salt of tris(carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP; Pierce) were added and the solution was heated to 40°C for 2 hours.
  • the thiol-containing oligonucleotide was purified from the small molecule by-products by size exclusion chromatography and either used immediately or stored at -80°C until use.
  • Cationic poly(lactic acid, glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres were prepared as follows. 0.875 g of poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) 50:50 polymer with an intrinsic viscosity of 0.41 dl/g (0.1%, chloroform, 25 °C) was dissolved in 7.875 g of methylene chloride at 10% w/w concentration, along with 0.3 g of DOTAP. The clear organic phase was then emulsified into 500 ml of PVA aqueous solution (0.35% w/v) by homogenization at 4000 rpm for 30 minutes at room temperature using a laboratory mixer (Silverson L4R, Silverson Instruments).
  • System temperature was then raised to 40 °C by circulating hot water through the jacket of the mixing vessel. Simultaneously, the stirring rate was reduced to 1500 rpm, and these conditions were maintained for 2 hours to extract and evaporate methylene chloride. The microsphere suspension was allowed to cool down to room temperature with the help of circulating cold water.
  • Unmodified poly(lactic acid, glycolic acid) biodegradable microspheres were synthesized, rinsed and dried as described above, except the 0.3 g of DOTAP was omitted.
  • Example 3 Preparation of IMP/MC complexes with biodegradable microspheres 200 mg of cationic PLGA microspheres prepared as described in Example 2 was dispersed in 1.875 ml of 0.1% w/v Tween solution by bath sonication for 5 minutes. 0.75 ml of aqueous oligonucleotide solution was added to the microsphere suspension to yield an approximate and theoreical drug loading of 2% w/w (oligonucleotide to microsphere). After a brief mixing, the oligonucleotide-microsphere suspension was incubated at 4 °C overnight. Microspheres were separated by centrifugation at 14,000 rpm for 30 minutes at room temperature in an Eppendorf centrifuge.
  • the supernatant and the microspheres were assayed for free and bound oligonucleotide, respectively, by the standard laboratory analytical techniques to determine oligonucleotide association efficiency or loading. Adsorption of oligonucleotide to the microspheres was confirmed by determining loss of oligonucleotide from the aqueous supernatant using absorbance at 260 nm after centrifugation of the oligonucleotide-microsphere suspension.
  • Example 4 Immunomodulation with IMP/MC complexes in human cells Heptameric oligonucleotides were tested for immunomodulatory activity alone and complexed with PLGA microspheres in the human PBMC assay.
  • Peripheral blood was collected from healthy volunteers by venipuncture using heparinized syringes. Blood was layeied onto FICOLL® (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech) cushion and centrifuged. PBMCs, located at the FICOLL® interface, were collected, then washed twice with cold phosphate buffered saline (PBS).
  • PBS cold phosphate buffered saline
  • the cells were resuspended and cultured in 24 or 48 well plates at 2 x 10 6 cells/mL in RPMI 1640 with 10% heat-inactivated human AB serum plus 50 units/mL penicillin, 50 ⁇ g/mL streptomycin, 300 ⁇ g/mL glutamine, 1 mM sodium pyruvate, and 1 x MEM non-essential amino acids (NEAA).
  • RPMI 1640 10% heat-inactivated human AB serum plus 50 units/mL penicillin, 50 ⁇ g/mL streptomycin, 300 ⁇ g/mL glutamine, 1 mM sodium pyruvate, and 1 x MEM non-essential amino acids (NEAA).
  • Cationic and unmodified PLGA microspheres were prepared as described in Example 2. Oligonucleotides were tested as single agents, or in combination with PLGA microspheres (unmodified or cationic). The oligonucleotides tested were 5 -TCGTCGA-3' (SEQ ID NO:2), 5'-ACGTTCG-3' (SEQ ID NO:3), 5'-ATCTCGA-3' (SEQ ID NO:4), and 5'-AGATGAT-3' (SEQ ID NO:5) (control). All oligonucleotides contained 100% phosphorothioate linkages and were tested at 20 ⁇ g/ml. The PLGA was added at a concentration of 250 ⁇ g/ml.
  • Table 2 shows the assay results. Results are shown in picograms per milliliter (pg/ml) of interferon-gamma (IFN- ⁇ ) or interferon-alpha (IFN- ⁇ ). Because of variability between assays using different human donors, results are shown for assays using different donor cells (each value in the parentheses) and as a mean.
  • IFN- ⁇ interferon-gamma
  • IFN- ⁇ interferon-alpha
  • Table 3 shows that the 7-mer oligonucleotide, SEQ ID NO:2, was active in two more healthy human donors when used with cationic microspheres but not when used alone. In this case the oligonucleotides and cationic microspheres were pre-mixed for 15 minutes at room temperature before they were added to the culture. Each value in the table represents the mean of the two readings in parentheses.
  • SEQ ID O:l 231 (410, 51) 0 (0, 0)
  • SEQ IDNO:2 4 (8, 0) 0 (0, 0)
  • catMC 97 (46, 148) 1 (2, 0)
  • Heptameric oligonucleotides were tested for immunomodulatory activity alone and complexed with cationic PLGA microspheres under two different conditions in the human PBMC assay.
  • the human PBMC assay was performed as described in Example 4.
  • Oligonucleotides were tested as single agents, in combination with other oligonucleotides, or in combination with cationic PLGA microspheres.
  • the oligonucleotide and microsphere concentrations were 20 ⁇ g/ml and 250 ⁇ g/ml, respectively.
  • the oligonucleotides were tested with the cationic PLGA microspheres, the oligonucleotide and microspheres were added at the same time to the culture (simultaneously, see "simult. added” in Tables 5 and 6).
  • oligonucleotides When multiple oligonucleotides were tested in combination, equal weights of each oligonucleotide were pre-mixed and a total concentration of 20 ⁇ g/ml was used.
  • the oligonucleotides were also complexed with the cationic PLGA microspheres under the conditions described in Example 3 in order to obtain a 2% w/w loading of oligonucleotide/microspheres (incubated for 16 hrs.). In this case the complexes were tested at 2 and 10 ⁇ g/ml, based on the oligonucleotide weight.
  • SAC PANSORBIN® CalBiochem, 1/5000 dilution
  • IMPs SEQ ID NO: 10 and 5'- TCGTCGAACGTTCGAGATG-3' (SEQ ID NO: 11) were used as positive controls, and control oligonucleotide, SEQ ID NO:l, and cells alone were used as negative controls.
  • SAC contains Staph. Aureus (Cowan I) cell material. Samples were assayed in two healthy donors in duplicate.
  • Tables 4, 5 and 6 show that when used alone, the heptameric oligonucleotides and the cationic PLGA microspheres had little activity, if any.
  • Tables 4, 5 and 6 also demonstrate that mixtures of the 7-mer oligonucleotides had little activity, if any.
  • heptameric oligonucleotide, SEQ ID NO:2 was active in inducing IFN- ⁇ and IFN- ⁇ when used under either condition with the cationic PLGA microspheres.
  • Each value in the tables represents the mean of the two readings in parentheses.
  • Heptameric oligonucleotides were tested for immunomodulatory activity alone and complexed with cationic PLGA microspheres in the human PBMC assay.
  • the oligonucleotides were premixed with the cationic PLGA microspheres for 15 minutes at room temperature at concentrations were 20 ⁇ g/ml and 250 ⁇ g/ml, respectively.
  • the human PBMC assay was performed as described in Example 4 and the cationic PLGA microspheres were prepared as described in Example 2.
  • SAC PANSORBIN® CalBiochem, 1/5000 dilution
  • IMP SEQ ID NO:10 were used as positive controls, and control oligonucleotide SEQ ID NO:l and cells alone were used as negative controls.
  • SAC contains Staph. Aureus (Cowan I) cell material. Samples were assayed in two healthy donors in duplicate.
  • the 7-mer phosphorothioate oligonucleotides tested were 5'-TCGTCGA-3' (SEQ ID NO:2), S'-TCGTTTW (SEQ ID NO:6), 5*-TCGAAAA-3* (SEQ ID NO:7), 5'- TCGCCCC-3' (SEQ ID NO:8), 5'-TCGGGGG-3' (SEQ ID NO:9), 5'-AGATGAT-3' (SEQ ID NO:5) (control).
  • heptameric oligonucleotides containing a single 5'-TCG were active in inducing IFN- ⁇ and IFN- ⁇ in the human PBMC assay when formulated with cationic PLGA microspheres.
  • Oligonucleotides with four or more guanosines in a row are known to form tefraplex structures.
  • SEQ ID NO:9 contains 5 guanosines in a row and was seen as an aggregate by capillary electrophoresis.
  • IFN- ⁇ (pg/ml) IFN- ⁇ (pg/ml)
  • Human PBMC were isolated from heparanized blood from two normal subjects. Some PBMCs were held in reserve while the remainder was incubated with CD 19+ MACS beads from Miltenyi. These cells were then passed through a magnet, separating out the CD 19+ B cells through positive selection. This population was determined to be >98% CD 19+ through FACS analysis. B cells were then cultured at 1 x 10 5 /200 ⁇ l/well in 96- well round-bottomed plates. PBMCs were also cultured, but at 2 x 10 5 /200 ⁇ l/well.
  • Cells were stimulated in triplicate with 2 ⁇ g/ml oligonucleotide either alone or with 100 ⁇ g/ml cationic PLGA microspheres (premixed for 15 minutes at room temperature). The culture period was 48 hours at 37°C. At the end of the culture period, the plates were pulsed with 3 H-thymidine, 1 ⁇ Ci/well, and incubated for an additional 8 hours. Then the plates were harvested using standard liquid scintillation techniques and data collected in counts per minutes (cpm).
  • the 7-mer, SEQ ID NO:2 induces less human B cell and PBMC proliferation than the control sequence, SEQ ID NO: 10, when used alone.
  • the 7-mer, SEQ ID NO:2 is formulated with cationic PLGA microspheres, it is able to generate similar amounts of proliferation as IMP, SEQ ID NO:l .
  • the values in the table for experiments 1 and 2 represent the cpm mean of three wells.
  • Example 8 Production of non-covalent, liquid phase IMP/MC complexes
  • IMP/MC complex comprising a modified oligonucleotide and a liquid phase MC are produced and tested for complex formation.
  • An oligonucleotide is modifed by addition of a cholesterol molecule to the 5' end of the oligonucleotide using phosphoramidite chemistry.
  • An oil-in-water emulsion is produced by homogenization of a mixture of 4.5% (w/v) squalene, 0.5% (w/v) sorbitan trioleate, 0.5% (w/v) TWEEN® 80 and 10 mM sodium citrate, pH 6.5, using a microfluidizer. The emulsion is examined and the average diameter of the oil doplets determined.
  • Example 9 Immunomodulation with IMP/MC mixtures with nonbiodegradable microcarriers
  • oligonucleotide containing the sequence 5'-CG-3' or a control oligonucleotide are mixed with sulphate-derivatized polycarbonate microparticles or nanoparticles (Polysciences, Inc.) and assayed for immunomodulatory activity on mouse splenocytes.
  • Tested particles include those 50 nm, 200 nm, 500 nm, 1 ⁇ m and 4.5 ⁇ m in size.
  • Fragments of BALB/c mouse spleen are digested with collagenase/dispase (0.1 U/mL/0.8U/mL) dissolved in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) for 45 minutes at 37° C, then are mechanically dispersed by forcing the digested fragments through metal screens.
  • the dispersed splenocytes are pelleted by centrifugation and are then resuspended in fresh medium (RPMI 1640 with 10% fetal calf serum, plus 50 units/mL penicillin, 50 ⁇ g/mL streptomycin, 2 mM glutamine, and 0.05 mM ⁇ -mercaptoethanol).
  • 4 x 10 5 mouse splenocytes are dispensed into wells of 96 well plates and incubated for one hour at 37° C.
  • the cells are incubated with DNA doses of 5 ⁇ g/ml, 1 ⁇ g/ml and 0.1 ⁇ g/ml.
  • 100 ⁇ L of 2x concentration test sample or control is added and the cells are incubated a further 24 hours.
  • Medium is harvested from each well and tested for cytokine concentrations by ELISA.
  • IFN- ⁇ is assayed using a sandwich-format ELISA.
  • Medium from the mouse splenocyte assay is incubated in microtiter plates coated with anti-IFN- ⁇ monoclonal antibody (Nunc).
  • Bound IFN- ⁇ is detected using a biotinylated anti-IFN- ⁇ antibody and streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase conjugated secondary antibody and the complexes are developed with the chromogenic peroxidase substrate 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of peroxidase and quantitated by measuring absorbance at 450 nm using a Emax precision microplate reader (Molecular Devices).
  • TMB chromogenic peroxidase substrate 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine
  • IL-6 and IL-12 are assayed with the same method using anti-IL-6 antibody and anti-IL-12 antibody, respectively.
  • Example 10 Immunomodulation of mouse cells by IMP/MC complexes
  • Oligonucleotides covalently linked to nonbiodegradable polystyrene beads (200 nm design size) are tested for immunomodulatory activity on mouse splenocytes.
  • Amine-derivatized polystyrene beads are obtained from Molecular Probes, Inc., and Polysciences, Inc. Three types of beads are utilized: amine-derivatized beads (Polysciences, Inc., Catalog No. 15699), amine-derivatized beads linked to a fluorophore with excitation/emission maxima of 580 and 605 nm ("Red Beads", Molecular Probes, Inc., Catalog No.
  • amine-derivatized beads linked to a fluorophore with excitation/emission maxima of 505 and 515 nm (“Yellow Beads", Molecular Probes, Inc., Catalog No. F8764) are activated with sulfo-SMCC (sulfosuccinimidyl 4-(N- maleimidomethyl)cyclopentane-l -carboxylate, Pierce Chemical Co.) according to the manufacturer's instructions.
  • the beads were then linked to thiol-modified oligonucleotides, or treated to quench the free maleimide group for use as a MC only control.
  • the IMP/MC complexes are isolated by centrifugation and washed three time with phosphate buffered saline to remove excess oligonucleotide.
  • Immunomodulatory effects of the IMP/MC complexes were assayed using mouse splenocytes as described above in Example 9. The cells are incubated with DNA doses of 20 ⁇ g/ml, 5 ⁇ g/ml and 1 ⁇ g/ml. Immunomodulatory activity is assessed by detection of IL- 12, IL-6 and/or IFN- ⁇ in response to IMP/MC complexes.
  • Example 11 Immunomodulation of human cells by IMP/MC complexes with nonbiodegradable microcarriers
  • Oligonucleotides covalently linked to nonbiodegradable polystyrene beads are tested for immunomodulatory activity in the human PBMC assay.
  • the human PBMC assay is performed as described in Example 4. The cells are incubated with DNA doses of 20 ⁇ g/ml, 10 ⁇ g/ml and 2 ⁇ g/ml. Immunomodulatory activity is assessed by detection of IFN- ⁇ and/or IFN- ⁇ in response to IMP/MC complexes.

Abstract

L'invention concerne de nouvelles compositions et de nouveaux procédés destinés à l'immunomodulation des personnes. L'immunomodulation est réalisée par administration de complexes polynucléotides immunomodulateurs/microporteurs (IMP/MC). Lesdits complexes IMP/MC peuvent être liés par covalence ou non, et comprennent un oligonucléotide heptamère, contenant au moins une séquence 5'-CG-3', et lié à un microporteur ou à un nanoporteur.
PCT/US2001/025364 2001-08-10 2001-08-13 Preparations d'oligonucleotides immunomodulateurs et leurs procedes d'utilisation WO2003015816A1 (fr)

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CA002456201A CA2456201A1 (fr) 2001-08-10 2001-08-13 Preparations d'oligonucleotides immunomodulateurs et leurs procedes d'utilisation
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US7129222B2 (en) 2000-03-10 2006-10-31 Dynavax Technologies Corporation Immunomodulatory formulations and methods for use thereof
US7183111B2 (en) 2000-03-10 2007-02-27 Dynavax Technologies Corporation Immunomodulatory formulations and methods for use thereof
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US8372413B2 (en) 2000-12-27 2013-02-12 Dynavax Technologies Corporation Immunomodulatory polynucleotides and methods of using the same
US9422564B2 (en) 2002-12-23 2016-08-23 Dynavax Technologies Corporation Immunostimulatory sequence oligonucleotides and methods of using the same
US8871732B2 (en) 2002-12-23 2014-10-28 Dynavax Technologies Corporation Immunostimulatory sequence oligonucleotides and methods of using the same
US10196643B2 (en) 2002-12-23 2019-02-05 Dynavax Technologies Corporation Immunostimulatory sequence oligonucleotides and methods of using the same
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WO2010142660A2 (fr) * 2009-06-09 2010-12-16 Novartis Ag Système d'administration de médicaments
WO2010142660A3 (fr) * 2009-06-09 2011-08-25 Novartis Ag Système d'administration de médicaments
US10837018B2 (en) 2013-07-25 2020-11-17 Exicure, Inc. Spherical nucleic acid-based constructs as immunostimulatory agents for prophylactic and therapeutic use

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