Imiquimod

Imiquimod (CAS 99011-02-6) is an orally bioavailable imidazoquinoline compound, functioning as an agonist of Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) primarily within immune cells and exhibiting immune response-modifying activity in other cell types. Additionally, it modulates local cytokine production through innate immune pathway activation.

In experimental models, Imiquimod induces interferon-α and other proinflammatory cytokines with immune-modulating effects, as measured by increases in cytokine levels in treated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and skin explants. It has been tested against various virus-infected cell lines and tumor cell models, demonstrating the ability to enhance antiviral and antitumor immune responses through activation of dendritic cells and subsequent T cell priming. Imiquimod can also stimulate the expression of interferon-stimulated genes and promote the release of interleukins, thereby strengthening the host’s innate and adaptive immunity.

In pharmaceutical and biomedical research, Imiquimod is widely used for the study of external genital and perianal warts, cancer immunotherapy, as well as in investigations exploring immune responses related to viral infections, including COVID-19. Its application extends to preclinical and clinical models that examine its mechanism as an immune response modifier and its potential roles in new therapeutic strategies targeting infectious and neoplastic diseases.