An in vitro co-culture system comprising cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and cancer cells for producing and maintaining cancer stem cells and uses thereof for identifying agents capable of reducing cancer cell stemness. Also disclosed herein are a paracrine network through which CAFs facilitate production and/or maintenance of cancer stem cells and the use of components of such a paracrine network for prognosis purposes and for identifying cancer patients who are likely to respond to certain treatment.

The present invention is related to novel methods for identifying a population of subjects that are at risk for developing of atopic allergic diseases, and to the prevention of these allergic diseases.

Modified, furin resistant human TSLP polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding the modified human TSLP polypeptides are provided. Pharmaceutical compositions, B and T cell activation agents, assays and methods of use are also described.

Methods of reducing cytokine levels and methods of treating conditions with antibodies that bind colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) are provided. Such methods include, but are not limited to, methods of treating inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for monitoring, diagnosis, prognosis, and determination of treatment regimens in subjects suffering from or suspected of having a renal injury. In particular, the invention relates to using a one or more assays configured to detect a kidney injury marker selected from the group consisting of Thymic stromal lymphopoietin, Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1, CC motif chemokine 1, CC motif chemokine 17, CC motif chemokine 21, CC motif chemokine 27, FLT-3 Ligand, Immunoglobulin G subclass 3, Interleukin-1 receptor type I, Interleukin-20, Interleukin-29, Interleukin-7, Platelet-derived growth factor A/B dimer, Platelet-derived growth factor A/A dimer, and MMP9:TIMP2 complex as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in renal injuries.

The present disclosure teaches an assay to determine the likelihood of a successful implantation of an embryo into a female subject leading to a pregnancy. Enabled herein is an improved assisted reproduction technology protocol based on a prognostic evaluation of pregnancy outcomes. Taught herein is a composition comprising reagents required for the prognostic evaluation. Taught herein are assays comprising determination of levels of the biomarkers IL-8, G-CSF and/or VEGFA in a biological fluid sample taken before embryo implantation.

Disclosed herein are methods for the treatment of an individual having an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The disclosed methods may include the detection of Oncostatin M (OSM) in a biological sample obtained from an individual having an IBD. The detection of OSM may be used to characterize the individual as a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor (TNFi) responder or a TNFi non-responder for selection of appropriate treatment.

The invention relates to a method for prognosing ACS in a subject, the method comprising determining plasma MIF and Nt-proBNP (or BNP) concentrations in a sample from the subject, diagnosing ACS when the subject plasma concentrations are greater than a reference MIF and Nt-proBNP (or BNP) plasma concentration, and prognosing the magnitude of ACS from the subject plasma MIF and Nt-proBNP (or BNP) concentrations. Also provided is a method of treating ACS in a subject, a device, a kit, and a cardiac biomarker related to the methods of prognosing ACS.

The present invention relates to a cytokine fusion polypeptide or a cytokine library comprising the same, and according to the cytokine fusion polypeptide or a cytokine library comprising the same according to an aspect, it enables continuous stimulation by a cytokine to a target cell and thus can easily and accurately evaluate the functionality of cytokines at the single cell level.

The present invention relates, in part, to certain serum biomarkers and use thereof in methods for treating cancer, such as in evaluating and/or in additional methods such as predicting patient responses to treatment with a CXCR4 inhibitor optionally in combination with a immunotherapeutic agent, in patients with a cancer such as melanoma, including resectable and unresectable melanoma.