Claims
- 1. A method for controlling an immune response in an organism, said method comprising:
administering to said organism a therapeutically effective amount of a compound which binds to a galectin.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said galectin is present on the cell surface of a tissue of said organism.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said compound binds to galectin-1 or galectin-3.
- 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said compound comprises a substantially demethoxylated polygalacturonic acid which is interrupted with rhamnose residues.
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said compound comprises a polymeric backbone having side chains dependent therefrom, said side chains being terminated by a galactose or arabinose unit.
- 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said compound comprises a modified pectin.
- 7. The method of claim 6, wherein said modified pectin comprises a pH modified pectin.
- 8. The method of claim 6, wherein said modified pectin comprises an enzymatically modified pectin.
- 9. The method of claim 6, wherein said modified pectin comprises a thermally modified pectin.
- 10. The method of claim 6, wherein said modified pectin comprises a modified citrus pectin.
- 11. The method of claim 1, wherein said compound has a molecular weight of at least 300 dalton.
- 12. The method of claim 1, wherein said compound has a molecular weight in the range of 300-2,000 dalton.
- 13. The method of claim 6, wherein said modified pectin has a molecular weight in the range of 1-50 kilodalton.
- 14. The method of claim 6, wherein said modified pectin has a molecular weight in the range of 1-15 kilodalton.
- 15. The method of claim 6, wherein said modified pectin has a molecular weight of approximately 10 kilodalton.
- 16. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of administering said compound to said organism comprises injecting said compound into said organism.
- 17. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of administering said compound to said organism comprises topically applying said compound to said organism.
- 18. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of administering said compound to said organism comprises administering said compound transdermally.
- 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of administering said compound to said organism comprises orally administering said compound.
- 20. A method for the therapeutic treatment of an autoimmune disease in an animal, said method comprising:
administering to said animal a therapeutically effective amount of a compound which binds to a galectin.
- 21. The method of claim 20, wherein said galectin is present on the cell surface of a tissue of said animal.
- 22. The method of claim 20, wherein said compound binds to galectin-1 or galectin-3.
- 23. The method of claim 20, wherein said compound comprises a substantially demethoxylated polygalacturonic acid which is interrupted with rhamnose residues.
- 24. The method of claim 20, wherein said compound comprises a polymeric backbone having side chains dependent therefrom, said side chains being terminated by a galactose or arabinose unit.
- 25. The method of claim 20, wherein said compound comprises a modified pectin.
- 26. The method of claim 25, wherein said modified pectin comprises a pH modified pectin.
- 27. The method of claim 25, wherein said modified pectin comprises an enzymatically modified pectin.
- 28. The method of claim 25, wherein said modified pectin comprises a thermally modified pectin.
- 29. The method of claim 25, wherein said modified pectin comprises a modified citrus pectin.
- 30. The method of claim 20, wherein said compound has a molecular weight of at least 300 dalton.
- 31. The method of claim 20, wherein said compound has a molecular weight in the range of 300-2,000 dalton.
- 32. The method of claim 25, wherein said modified pectin has a molecular weight in the range of 1-50 kilodalton.
- 33. The method of claim 25, wherein said modified pectin has a molecular weight in the range of 1-15 kilodalton.
- 34. The method of claim 25, wherein said modified pectin has a molecular weight of approximately 10 kilodalton.
- 35. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of administering said compound to said animal comprises injecting said compound into said animal.
- 36. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of administering said compound to said animal comprises topically applying said compound to said animal.
- 37. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of administering said compound to said animal comprises administering said compound transdermally.
- 38. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of administering said compound to said animal comprises orally administering said compound.
- 39. The method of claim 20, wherein said autoimmune disease comprises rheumatoid arthritis.
- 40. The method of claim 20, wherein said autoimmune disease comprises atherosclerosis.
- 41. The method of claim 20, wherein said autoimmune disease comprises a glomerular disease.
- 42. A method for treating an autoimmune disease in an animal, said method comprising:
administering to said animal a compound which binds to a galectin whereby said compound blocks binding of biogenic, immune response invoking, compounds to said galectin.
- 43. A compound for controlling an immune response in an animal, said compound comprising:
a first functional portion operable to bind to the carbohydrate binding site of a galectin, said first functional portion including a terminal galactose or arabinose; and a second functional portion operable to denature a protein, said second functional portion including a member selected from the group consisting of chalcogen elements, thiols, sulfhydryls, cyano groups, thiocyanates, alkylating agents, and combinations thereof.
- 44. The compound of claim 43, wherein said first and second functional portions are attached to a polymeric or oligomeric backbone.
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/300,360 filed Jun. 22, 2001, entitled “Method and Material for Treating Immune Diseases.”
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60300360 |
Jun 2001 |
US |