CpG-Independent Synergistic Induction of β-Chemokines and a Dendritic Cell Phenotype by Orthophosphorothioate Oligodeoxynucleotides and Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor in Elutriated Human Primary Monocytes

Chemokines attract leukocytes bearing the relevant chemokine receptors and regulate innate immune responses. CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) and GM-CSF are potent vaccine adjuvants and in combination induce enhanced Th1 responses by mechanisms yet to be determined. We have examined combinations of CpG- or non-CpG-ODN and GM-CSF for effects on the production of chemokines and the differentiation of monocytes to dendritic cells. High levels of the Th1-attracting, HIV-1-inhibitory chemokines, CCL3/MIP-1α and CCL4/MIP-1β, were induced in human primary monocytes when CpG- or non-CpG-ODN was combined with GM-CSF, but not with IL-4 or IFN-γ. The synergistic induction of β-chemokines by non-CpG-ODN was phosphorothioate (PS) chemistry dependent and inhibited by blocking endosome maturation/acidification and ERK1/2 activation. Chemokine and TLR9 mRNAs were induced by PS-ODN. Cells treated with non-CpG PS-ODN and GM-CSF expressed dendritic cell marker CD83 and high levels of HLA-DR and costimulatory molecules, and were CD14− or CD14dim, consistent with monocyte differentiation into a dendritic cell phenotype. The induction of CD83 and β-chemokines was tyrosine phosphorylation dependent. Secreted CCL3 and CCL4 were detected as a heterodimer. Our results indicate the CpG-independent synergy between PS-ODN and GM-CSF mediated through chemokine and dendritic cell induction. In addition, our observations suggest that PS-ODN plus GM-CSF may be useful as potent ex vivo dendritic cell differentiation/maturation agents for dendritic cell therapy and as vaccine adjuvants for tumor and infectious microorganisms, including HIV-1.