Methods for increasing a cytotoxic T lymphocyte response in vivo

A method of decreasing tumor load in a CD4+ T cell-deficient individual, comprising administering a formulation comprising an immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of 5′-purine-purine-cytosine-guanine-pyrimidine-pyrimidine-3′;

• 5′-purine-TCG-pyrimidine-pyrimidine-3′;
• and 5′-(TGC)n-3′, where n≧1.

A method of treating an infectious disease in a CD4+ T cell-deficient individual, comprising administering a formulation comprising an immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of 5′-purine-purine-cytosine-guanine-pyrimidine-pyrimidine-3′;

• 5′-purine-TCG-pyrimidine-pyrimidine-3′;
• and 5′-(TGC)n-3′, where n≧1.

A method for treating an individual at risk for becoming CD4+ T cell deficient, comprising administering a formulation comprising an immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of 5′-purine-purine-cytosine-guanine-pyrimidine-pyrimidine-3′;

• 5′-purine-TCG-pyrimidine-pyrimidine-3′;
• and 5′-(TGC)n-3′, where n≧1.

A method of increasing production of IFNγ in a CD4+ T cell-deficient individual, comprising administering an immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecule in an amount effective to increase IFNγ production in the individual.

A method for increasing secretion of a chemokine ligand for a chemokine receptor in vivo, comprising administering to an individual an immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecule in an amount sufficient to increase secretion of a chemokine ligand for a chemokine receptor.

A method for increasing antigen-specific secretion of a chemokine ligand for a chemokine receptor in vivo, comprising administering to an individual a composition comprising an immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecule and an antigen associated with a pathogenic organism, wherein the immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecule is present in the formulation in an amount sufficient to increase secretion of a chemokine ligand for a chemokine receptor in response to the antigen.

A method for inhibiting entry of an immunodeficiency virus into a cell in vivo, comprising administering to an individual an immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecule in an amount sufficient to increase secretion of a chemokine ligand for a chemokine receptor and inhibit binding of the immunodeficiency virus to the chemokine receptor.

A method for inhibiting entry of a human immunodeficiency virus into a cell in vivo, comprising administering to an individual an immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecule in an amount sufficient to increase secretion of a chemokine ligand for a CCR5 chemokine receptor and inhibit binding of the immunodeficiency virus to the chemokine receptor.

A method of inducing a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response to a soluble exogenous antigen, comprising administering to an individual an immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecule and a soluble exogenous antigen in an amount effective to increase CTL activity specific to the soluble exogenous antigen.