| abstract |
The invention relates to oligonucleotides which comprise a hexameric nucleotide sequence of the formula 5'-Purine-Purine-[Y]-[Z]-Pyrimidine-Pyrimidine-3' or 5' Purine-Purine-[Y]-[Z]-poly(Pyrimidine)-3'; wherein Y is any naturally occurring or synthetic nucleotide except cytosine and Z is any naturally occurring or synthetic nucleotide and wherein when Y is not guanosine or inosine, Z is guanosine or inosine. The oligonucleotides are useful in method of treatments including for reducing inflammation in a host; treating an autoimmune disorder; or inducing a Th2 immune response to an extracellular antigen. Exemplary hexameric nucleotide sequences include AAGGTT, AAGGTC, AAGGCC, AGGGTT, AGGGTC, AGGGCT, GGGGTT, GGGGTC, GGGGCT, GAGGTT, GAGGTC, GAGGCC, AAGCTT, AAGCTC, AAGCCC, AAGCCT, AGGCTC, AGGCCC, AGGCCT, GGGCTT, GGGCTC, GGGCCC, GAGCTT, GAGCTC, GAGCCC, and GAGCCT. |