Immunostimulatory properties of oligonucleotide-based compounds comprising modified immunostimulatory dinucleotides

A method for preventing cancer, an autoimmune disorder, airway inflammation, inflammatory disorders, skin disorders, allergy, asthma or a disease caused by a pathogen in a vertebrate, such method comprising administering to the vertebrate an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide having a structure from the group of 5′-TCAGTCG2TTAG-X-GATTG2CTGACT-5′ (SEQ ID NO:

• 2);
• 5′-TCG2TCG2TTAGA-X-AGATTG2CTG2CT-5′ (SEQ ID NO:
• 3);
• 5′-CAGTCG2TTCAG-X-GACTTG2CTGAC-5′ (SEQ ID NO:
• 4);
• 5′-TCAGTCG1TTAG-X-GATTG1CTGACT-5′ (SEQ ID NO:
• 5);
• 5′-TCG1TCG1TTAGA-X-AGATTG1CTG1CT-5′ (SEQ ID NO:
• 6) and 5′-CAGTCG1TTCAG-X-GACTTG1CTGAC-5′ (SEQ ID NO:
• 7);
• wherein G1=2′-deoxy-7-deazaguanosine;
• G2=arabinoguanosine;
• and X=glycerol linker.

A pharmaceutical composition comprising an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide having a structure from the group of 5′-TCAGTCG2T′TAG-X-GA′TTG2CTGACT-5′ (SEQ ID NO:

• 2);
• 5′-TCG2TCG2TTAGA-X-AGATTG2CTG2CT-5′ (SEQ ID NO:
• 3);
• 5′-CAGTCG2TTCAG-X-GACTTG2CTGAC-5′ (SEQ ID NO:
• 4);
• 5′-TCAGTCG1TTAG-X-GATTG1CTGACT-5′ (SEQ ID NO:
• 5);
• 5′-TCG1TCG1TTAGA-X-AGATTG1CTG1CT-5′ (SEQ ID NO:
• 6) and 5% CAGTCG1TTCAG-X-GACTTG1CTGAC-5′ (SEQ ID NO:
• 7);
• wherein G1=2′-deoxy-7-deazaguanosine;
• G2=arabinoguanosine;
• and X=glycerol linker, and a physiologically acceptable carrier.