| abstract |
The invention discloses that methylated nucleic acids, particularly methylated oligonucleotides, and more particularly methylated oligonucleotides bearing a methylated cytosine of a CpG dinucleotide motif can be made immunostimulatory in vivo, by encapsulation of the nucleic acid in a lipid particle. It is further disclosed that encapsulated methylated nucleic acids that are ordinarily not immunostimulatory in vivo are as effective or even more effective than their encapsulated unmethylated counterparts. Also disclosed are methods for activating and/or expanding dendritic cell populations in response to antigenic stimulation using the compositions and methods disclosed herein. |