Patents by Inventor Ruurd Torensma

Ruurd Torensma has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8105599
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a compound that binds to a C-type lectin on the surface of a dendritic cell, in the preparation of a composition for modulating, in particular reducing, the immune response in an animal, in particular a human or another mammal. The composition in particular modulates the interactions between a dendritic cell and a T-cell, more specifically between a C-type lectin on the surface of a dendritic cell and an ICAM receptor on the surface of a T-cell. The compositions can be used for preventing/inhibiting immune responses to specific antigens, for inducing tolerance, for immunotherapy, for immunosuppression, for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, and the treatment of allergy. The compound that binds to a C-type lectin is preferably chosen from mannose, fucose, plant lectins, antibiotics, sugars, proteins or antibodies against C-type lectins. The invention also relates to such antibodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen
    Inventors: Carl Gustav Figdor, Teunis Bernard Herman Geijtenbeek, Yvette Van Kooyk, Ruurd Torensma
  • Patent number: 8058400
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a compound that binds to a C-type lectin on the surface of a dendritic cell, in the preparation of a composition for modulating, in particular reducing, the immune response in an animal, in particular a human or another mammal. The composition in particular modulates the interactions between a dendritic cell and a T-cell, more specifically between a C-type lectin on the surface of a dendritic cell and an ICAM receptor on the surface of a T-cell. The compositions can be used for preventing/inhibiting immune responses to specific antigens, for inducing tolerance, for immunotherapy, for immunosuppression, for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, and the treatment of allergy. The compound that binds to a C-type lectin is preferably chosen from mannose, fucose, plant lectins, antibiotics, sugars, proteins or antibodies against C-type lectins. The invention also relates to such antibodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen
    Inventors: Carl Gustav Figdor, Teunis Bernard H. Geijtenbeek, Yvette Van Kooyk, Ruurd Torensma
  • Patent number: 7691591
    Abstract: The C-type lectin DC-SIGN is absent in normal synovium but is highly expressed by CD68 positive macrophages in the synovium of rheumatoid arthritis patients. Accordingly, rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed or treated by, respectively, assaying or blocking DC-SIGN. This can be accomplished by the use of agents, e.g., antibodies, which bind specifically to DCSIGN. Agents that bind to ICAM-3 are used to block inhibition of activation of macrophages by DC-SIGN-ICAM-3 interaction and cause inhibition of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Stichting Katholieke Universiteit
    Inventors: Carl Gustav Figdor, Ruurd Torensma, Petrus Leonardus Everardus Maria Van Lent, Wim B. Van Den Berg
  • Publication number: 20090285839
    Abstract: Dendritic cells (DC) that express the type II C-type lectin DC-SIGN (CD209) are located in the submucosa of tissues, where they mediate HIV-1 entry. Interestingly, the pathogen Candida albicans, the major cause of hospital-acquired fungal infections, is found at similar sites. Here it is demonstrated that DC-SIGN is able to bind Candida albicans both in DC-SIGN transfected cell lines and in human monocyte derived DC. Moreover, in immature DC, DC-SIGN is able to internalize Candida in specific DC-SIGN enriched vesicles, distinct from those containing the mannose receptor (MR; CD206), which is another Candida receptor on DC. Together, these results demonstrate that C. albicans has two major receptors on human monocyte derived DC, these receptors being DC-SIGN and MR. Targeting of DC-SIGN offers novel opportunities to combat chronic forms of candidiasis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: Stichting Katholieke Universiteit
    Inventors: Carl Gustav Figdor, Ruurd Torensma
  • Patent number: 7541032
    Abstract: Dendritic cells (DC) that express the type II C-type lectin DC-SIGN (CD209) are located in the submucosa of tissues, where they mediate HIV-1 entry. Interestingly, the pathogen Candidaalbicans, the major cause of hospital-acquired fungal infections, is found at similar sites. Here it is demonstrated that DC-SIGN is able to bind Candida albicans both in DC-SIGN transfected cell lines and in human monocyte derived DC. Moreover, in immature DC, DC-SIGN is able to internalize Candida in specific DC-SIGN enriched vesicles, distinct from those containing the mannose receptor (MR; CD206), which is another Candida receptor on DC. Together, these results demonstrate that C. albicans has two major receptors on human monocyte derived DC, these receptors being DC-SIGN and MR. Targeting of DC-SIGN offers novel opportunities to combat chronic forms of candidiasis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Stichting Katholieke Universiteit
    Inventors: Carl Gustav Figdor, Ruurd Torensma
  • Publication number: 20080160041
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a compound that binds to a C-type lectin on the surface of a dendritic cell, in the preparation of a composition for modulating, in particular reducing, the immune response in an animal, in particular a human or another mammal. The composition in particular modulates the interactions between a dendritic cell and a T-cell, more specifically between a C-type lectin on the surface of a dendritic cell and an ICAM receptor on the surface of a T-cell. The compositions can be used for preventing/inhibiting immune responses to specific antigens, for inducing tolerance, for immunotherapy, for immunosuppression, for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, and the treatment of allergy. The compound that binds to a C-type lectin is preferably chosen from mannose, fucose, plant lectins, antibiotics, sugars, proteins or antibodies against C-type lectins. The invention also relates to such antibodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Carl Gustav Figdor, Teunis Bernard Herman Geijtenbeek, Yvette Van Kooyk, Ruurd Torensma
  • Patent number: 7285642
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a compound that binds to a C-type lectin on the surface of a dendritic cell, in the preparation of a composition for modulating, in particular reducing, the immune response in an animal, in particular a human or another mammal. The composition in particular modulates the interactions between a dendritic cell and a T-cell, more specifically between a C-type lectin on the surface of a dendritic cell and an ICAM receptor on the surface of a T-cell. The compositions can be used for preventing/inhibiting immune responses to specific antigens, for inducing tolerance, for immunotherapy, for immunosuppression, for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, and the treatment of allergy. The compound that binds to a C-type lectin is preferably chosen from mannose, fucose, plant lectins, antibiotics, sugars, proteins or antibodies against C-type lectins. The invention also relates to such antibodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen
    Inventors: Carl Gustav Figdor, Teunis Bernard Herman Geijtenbeek, Yvette Van Kooyk, Ruurd Torensma
  • Publication number: 20070134693
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a compound that binds to a C-type lectin on the surface of a sinusoid endothelial layer, in the preparation of a composition for modulating, in particular reducing, the immune response in animal, in particular a human or another mammal. The sinusoid endothelial layer may be either constituted by liver sinusoid endothelial cells (LSEC) or by the lymph node sinusoidal zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Inventors: Carl Figdor, Teunis Geijtenbeek, Yvette Kooyk, Ruurd Torensma
  • Patent number: 7148329
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a compound that binds to a C-type lectin on the surface of a dendritic cell, in the preparation of a composition for modulating, in particular reducing, the immune response in an animal, in particular a human or another mammal. The composition in particular modulates the interactions between a dendritic cell and a T-cell, more specifically between a C-type lectin on the surface of a dendritic cell and an ICAM receptor on the surface of a T-cell. The compositions can be used for preventing/inhibiting immune responses to specific antigens, for inducing tolerance, for immunotherapy, for immunosuppression, for the treatment of auto-immune diseases, the treatment of allergy, and/or for inhibiting HIV infection. The compound that binds to a C-type lectin is preferably chosen from mannose, fucose, plant lectins, antibiotics, sugars, proteins or antibodies against C-type lectins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen
    Inventors: Carl Gustav Figdor, Teunis Bernard Herman Geijtenbeek, Yvette Van Kooyk, Ruurd Torensma
  • Publication number: 20060233805
    Abstract: Dendritic cells (DC) that express the type II C-type lectin DC-SIGN (CD209) are located in the submucosa of tissues, where they mediate HIV-1 entry. Interestingly, the pathogen Candidaalbicans, the major cause of hospital-acquired fungal infections, is found at similar sites. Here it is demonstrated that DC-SIGN is able to bind Candida albicans both in DC-SIGN transfected cell lines and in human monocyte derived DC. Moreover, in immature DC, DC-SIGN is able to internalize Candida in specific DC-SIGN enriched vesicles, distinct from those containing the mannose receptor (MR; CD206), which is another Candida receptor on DC. Together, these results demonstrate that C. albicans has two major receptors on human monocyte derived DC, these receptors being DC-SIGN and MR. Targeting of DC-SIGN offers novel opportunities to combat chronic forms of candidiasis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Inventors: Carl Figdor, Ruurd Torensma
  • Publication number: 20060121033
    Abstract: The C-type lectin DC-SIGN is absent in normal synovium but is highly expressed by CD68 positive macrophages in the synovium of rheumatoid arthritis patients. Accordingly, rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed or treated by, respectively, assaying or blocking DC-SIGN. This can be accomplished by the use of agents, e.g., antibodies, which bind specifically to DCSIGN. Agents that bind to ICAM-3 are used to block inhibition of activation of macrophages by DC-SIGN-ICAM-3 interaction and cause inhibition of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: Carl Figdor, Ruurd Torensma, Maria Petrus Leonardus Van Lent, Wim Van Den Berg
  • Publication number: 20050220804
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a compound that binds to a C-type lectin on the surface of a dendritic cell, in the preparation of a composition for modulating, in particular reducing, the immune response in an animal, in particular a human or another mammal. The composition in particular modulates the interactions between a dendritic cell and a T-cell, more specifically between a C-type lectin on the surface of a dendritic cell and an ICAM receptor on the surface of a T-cell. The compositions can be used for preventing/inhibiting immune responses to specific antigens, for inducing tolerance, for immunotherapy, for immunosuppression, for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, and the treatment of allergy. The compound that binds to a C-type lectin is preferably chosen from mannose, fucose, plant lectins, antibiotics, sugars, proteins or antibodies against C-type lectins. The invention also relates to such antibodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventors: Carl Figdor, Teunis Geijtenbeek, Yvette Van Kooyk, Ruurd Torensma
  • Publication number: 20050118168
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a compound that binds to a C-type lectin on the surface of a dendritic cell, in the preparation of a composition for modulating, in particular reducing, the immune response in an animal, in particular a human or another mammal. The composition in particular modulates the interactions between a dendritic cell and a T-cell, more specifically between a C-type lectin on the surface of a dendritic cell and an ICAM receptor on the surface of a T-cell. The compositions can be used for preventing/inhibiting immune responses to specific antigens, for inducing tolerance, for immunotherapy, for immunosuppression, for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, and the treatment of allergy. The compound that binds to a C-type lectin is preferably chosen from mannose, fucose, plant lectins, antibiotics, sugars, proteins or antibodies against C-type lectins. The invention also relates to such antibodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Publication date: June 2, 2005
    Inventors: Carl Figdor, Teunis Geijtenbeek, Yvette Van Kooyk, Ruurd Torensma
  • Publication number: 20040091481
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a compound that binds to a C-type lectin on the surface of a sinusoid endothelial layer, in the preparation of a composition for modulating, in particular reducing, the immune response in animal, in particular a human or another mammal. The sinusoid endothelial layer may be either constituted by liver sinusoid endothelial cells (LSEC) or by the lymph node sinusoidal zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Carl Gustav Figdor, Teunis Bernard Herman Geitjenbeek, Yvette Van Kooyk, Ruurd Torensma