IMMUNOSTIMULATORY SEQUENCE OLIGONUCLEOTIDES AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME
The invention provides immunomodulatory polynucleotides and methods for immunomodulation of individuals using the immunomodulatory polynucleotides.
1 - 9 . (canceled)
10 . An immunomodulatory polynucleotide, comprising:
(SEQ ID NO: 38)
5′TTCGAACGTTCGAACGTTCGAAT-3′,
wherein the polynucleotide comprises at least one phosphorothioate linkage.
11 . The immunomodulatory polynucleotide of claim 10 , wherein all nucleotide linkages are phosphorothioate linkages.
12 . The immunomodulatory polynucleotide of claim 10 , wherein at least one nucleoside comprises a modified base.
13 . The immunomodulatory polynucleotide of claim 12 , wherein the modified base is 7-deazaguanine or 7-deaza-8-azaguanine.
14 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient and the immunomodulatory polynucleotide of claim 13 .
15 . A method of modulating an immune response in a human comprising: administering the pharmaceutical composition of claim 14 to the human in an amount sufficient to modulate an immune response in the human.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the human is receiving a prophylactic vaccine or a therapeutic vaccine.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the therapeutic vaccine comprises tumor associated antigens and/or tumor cells.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises administration of one or more additional therapeutic agents.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the one or more additional therapeutic agents comprise an anti-tumor antibody, and the anti-tumor antibody is a monoclonal anti-tumor antibody, fragment, or derivative thereof.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the one or more additional therapeutic agents comprise an immunotherapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of cytokines, adjuvants and antibodies.
21 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the one or more additional therapeutic agents is selected from the group consisting of anti-tumor antibodies, chemotherapy regimens and radiation treatments.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the anti-tumor antibodies comprise rituximab or trastuzumab.
23 . A method of increasing interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in a human, comprising: administering the pharmaceutical composition of claim 14 to the human in an amount sufficient to increase IFN-γ in the human.
24 . A method of increasing interferon-alpha (IFN-α) in a human, comprising: administering the pharmaceutical composition of claim 14 to the human in an amount sufficient to increase IFN-α in the human.