Effective treatment of retrovirus-induced suppression of antibody responses with CpG oligodeoxynucleotides

Anke R M Kraft1, Tanja Arndt1, Kim J Hasenkrug2

  • 1Institut für Virologie des Universitätsklinikums Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany.

Most retroviruses induce severe immunosuppression during acute infection. We have used the Friend retrovirus mouse model to demonstrate that immunostimulatory B-type CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) have a protective effect against retrovirus-induced suppression of antibody responses to potent B-cell antigens. CD8+ T cells were critical for effective treatment with CpG-ODN, since in vivo depletion of these cells from treated mice impaired protection from retrovirus-induced immunosuppression. Protection also required IFN-gamma, as neutralization of this cytokine abolished the therapeutic effect of CpG-ODN. These findings may have implications for the treatment of immunosuppressive virus infections.

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