U.S. flag An official website of the United States government

On Oct. 1, 2024, the FDA began implementing a reorganization impacting many parts of the agency. We are in the process of updating FDA.gov content to reflect these changes.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  1. Home
  2. Science & Research
  3. FDA Technology Transfer Program
  4. Licensing and Collaboration Opportunities
  5. Identification of a Cell-Surface Co-Receptor that Mediates the Uptake and Immunostimulatory Activity of "D" Type CpG Oligonucleotides
  1. Licensing and Collaboration Opportunities

Identification of a Cell-Surface Co-Receptor that Mediates the Uptake and Immunostimulatory Activity of "D" Type CpG Oligonucleotides

Download the Abstract (PDF - 107KB)

Technology Summary

Unmethylated CpG motifs are present at high frequency in bacterial DNA. They provide a danger signal to the mammalian immune system that triggers a protective immune response characterized by the production of Th1 and proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Although the recognition of CpG DNA by B cells and plasmacytoid dendritic cells is mediated by TLR 9, these cell types differ in their ability to bind and respond to structurally distinct classes of CpG oligonucleotides. The inventors’ work established that CXCL16, a membranebound scavenger receptor, influences the uptake, subcellular localization, and cytokine profile induced by D oligonucleotides.

Knowing that CXCL16 can be used to selectively internalize ODN could be useful for (1) improving the activity of D type ODN, (2) improving recognition (and side effects) of other types of ODNs by deleting regions that interact with CXCL16, (3) potentially improving the targeting of any drug or biologic to CXCL16 expressing cells, (4) targeting antisense ODNs to immune cells or preventing side effects from antisense therapy, and also applications to (5) DNA vaccines and other agents that require targeting to CXCL16 expressing cells such as dendritic cells and monocytes.

This application claims methods of inducing an immune response that include administering agents that increase the activity and/or expression of CXCL16 and a D ODN. The application also claims methods of decreasing an immune response to a CpG ODN, including administering agents that decrease the activity and/or expression of CXCL16. Compositions including one or more D type ODNs and an agent that modulates the activity and/or expression of CXCL16 are also claimed.

Potential Commercial Applications Competitive Advantages
  • Vaccine production, vaccine adjuvants
  • Immunotherapeutics
  • Improves drug and biological targeting to CXCL 16 expressing cells
  • Improves activity of D type ODN

Inventors: Dennis Klinman, Mayda Gursel, Ihsan Gursel

Publications: M Gursel et al. CXCL16 influences the nature and specificity of CpG-induced immune activation. J Immunol. 2006 Aug 1;177(3):1575-1580.PMID: 16849465

Intellectual Property:
U.S. Pat: 7,892,569 issued 2011-02-22
U.S. Pat: 8,470,342 issued 2013-06-25
PCT Application No. PCT/US2006/033774

Product Area: Vaccine adjuvant, autoimmune therapeutic, immunotherapeutic

FDA Reference No: E-2005-004

Licensing Contact:
Ken Millburne, J.D.
FDA Technology Transfer Program
Email: FDAInventionlicensing@fda.hhs.gov
Phone: 301-346-3964

Back to Top