The invention provides an isolated antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof that specifically binds to canine or feline Oncostatin M receptor Beta (OSMR-β) or both, wherein the antibody antagonizes IL-31-mediated signaling or OSM-mediated signaling or both in a canine and/or feline cell.

Subject of the invention is a composition comprising at least one fragment of the peptide ESAT-6 and at least one fragment of the peptide CFP-10. Preferably, the fragments comprise at least two sets of peptides, a first set comprising at least one peptide of from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length and a second set comprising at least one peptide of from 16 amino acid residues or greater. The invention also relates to diagnostic methods using the composition.

Embodiments of the instant disclosure relate to novel methods for treatment of a neurodegenerative disease or condition. In certain embodiments, methods of alleviating a neurodegenerative disease in a subject include administering an effective concentration of granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF); monitoring an absolute number of at least one of leukocytes, concentration of at least one inflammatory cytokine, concentration of at least one neurodegenerative condition biomarker, or a combination thereof in the subject; and adjusting GM-CSF treatment regimens based the level of at least one of these parameters. In some embodiments, methods of alleviating a neurodegenerative condition in a subject can further include performing at least one cognition assessment test before and after GM-CSF treatment and adjusting the GM-CSF treatment regimen based on observations in the cognitive state of the subject before and after administration of GM-CSF.

An embodiment of the invention provides a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) comprising an antigen binding domain specific for FLT3, a transmembrane domain, and an intracellular T cell signaling domain. Nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, antibodies, or antigen binding portions thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions relating to the CARs are disclosed. Methods of detecting the presence of a proliferative disorder, e.g., cancer, in a mammal and methods of treating or preventing a proliferative disorder, e.g., cancer, in a mammal are also disclosed.

An embodiment of the invention provides a chimeric antigen receptor (C AR) comprising an antigen binding domain specific for FLT3, a transmembrane domain, and an intracellular T cell signaling domain. Nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, antibodies, or antigen binding portions thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions relating to the CARs are disclosed. Methods of detecting the presence of a proliferative disorder, e.g., cancer, in a mammal and methods of treating or preventing a proliferative disorder, e.g., cancer, in a mammal are also disclosed.

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 relates to a novel complex that is formed by linking p40 subunit and EBI3 subunit via a linker and has excellent anti-inflammatory effects and immunomodulatory effects.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a method for simply, inexpensively and accurately assessing, before administering a biological preparation, the therapeutic effect thereof (in particular whether there will be a complete response) or the improvement of symptoms in patients having rheumatoid arthritis.

By using at least one serum concentration selected from the group consisting of sgp130, IP-10, sTNFRI, sTNFRII, GM-CSF, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-15, Eotaxin, VEGF, MCP-1, TNF-α, IFN-γ, FGF basic, PDGF-bb, sIL-6R and MIP-1α, the therapeutic effect (improvement of symptoms and possibility of response) of an inflammatory cytokine-targeting biological preparation on a patient having rheumatoid arthritis can be predicted in any type of facility in a simple, inexpensive, and highly accurate manner before administering the biological preparation.

Provided herein are methods, kits, systems, and compositions or liquid biopsy yield enhancement.

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.