Chimeric immunomodulatory compounds and methods of using the same-iv

Abstract

The invention provides immunomodulatory compounds and methods for immunomodulation of individuals using the immunomodulatory compounds.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A chimeric immunomodulatory compound (CIC) that stimulates production of IFN-α, from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, said CIC comprising at least three nucleic acid moieties, at least one of which comprises a sequence 5′-TCGY, where Y is selected from the group consisting of XCGX, XTCG, XXCG, and CGXX, where X is any nucleotide, and at least one nonnucleic acid spacer moiety. 
     
     
         2 . The CIC of  claim 1  comprising at least one multivalent nonnucleic acid spacer moiety. 
     
     
         3 . The CIC of  claim 1  wherein at least one nonnucleic acid spacer moiety comprises HEG, TEG, propyl, butyl, hexyl, pentaerythritol, 2-(hydroxymethyl)ethyl, glycerol, a polysaccharide, 1,3-diamino-2-propanol, or a dendrimer. 
     
     
         4 . A CIC that stimulates production of IFN-α, from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells but does not stimulate human B cell proliferation. 
     
     
         5 . The CIC of  claim 4  comprising a nucleic acid moiety comprising the sequence 5′-TCGAX N , where X is any nucleotide and n is 1, 2, or 3. 
     
     
         6 . The CIC of  claim 5  wherein the nucleic acid moiety comprising the sequence 5′-TCGAX N , where X is any nucleotide and n is an integer from 4 to 9. 
     
     
         7 . The CIC of  claim 5  comprising a nucleic acid moiety comprising the sequence 5′-TCGACGX N , where X is any nucleotide and n is 1, 2, 3, or an integer from 4 to 7. 
     
     
         8 . The CIC of  claim 7  wherein N is 1. 
     
     
         9 . The CIC of  claim 8  wherein X is T. 
     
     
         10 . The CIC of  claim 9  having the structure (5′-TCGACGT-HEG) 2 -glycerol-HEG-5′-TCGACGT or (5′-TCGACGT-HEG) 3 -trebler-HEG-5′-TCGACGT. 
     
     
         11 . A composition comprising a CIC of  claim 4  and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. 
     
     
         12 . A composition comprising a CIC of  claim 11  and further comprising an antigen. 
     
     
         13 . A composition comprising a CIC of  claim 11  and further comprising a cationic microsphere. 
     
     
         14 . A method of modulating an immune response in an individual comprising administering to an individual a CIC of  claim 1  in an amount sufficient to modulate an immune response in said individual. 
     
     
         15 . A method of modulating an immune response in an individual comprising administering to an individual a CIC of  claim 4  in an amount sufficient to modulate an immune response in said individual.