G-Quadruplex Structure Improves the Immunostimulatory Effects of CpG Oligonucleotides
Kazuaki Hoshi, TOMOHIKO YAMAZAKI, Yuuki Sugiyama, Kaori Tsukakoshi, Wakako Tsugawa, Koji Sode & Kazunori Ikebukuro
Single-strand oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) containing unmethylated cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) are recognized by the toll-like receptor 9, a component of the innate immunity. Therefore, they could act as immunotherapeutic agents. Chemically modified CpG ODNs containing a phosphorothioate backbone instead of phosphodiester (PD) were developed as immunotherapeutic agents resistant to nuclease degradation. However, they cause adverse side effects, and so there is a necessity to generate novel CpG ODNs. In the present study, we designed a nuclease-resistant nonmodified CpG...