The invention provides methods for treating pathological conditions associated with an undesirable inflammatory component. The invention is generally directed to reducing inflammation by administering cells that have one or more of the following effects in an injured subject: interact with splenocytes, preserve splenic mass, increase proliferation of CD4.sup.+ and CD8.sup.+ T-cells, increase IL-4 and IL-10, decrease IL-6 and IL-1, and increase M2:M1 macrophage ratio at the site of injury. The invention is also directed to drug discovery methods to screen for agents that modulate the ability of the cells to have these effects. The invention is also directed to cell banks that can be used to provide cells for administration to a subject, the banks comprising cells having desired potency for achieving these effects.

Provided herein are methods of detecting cytokine signaling responsiveness in immune cells from a cancer subject and determining risk of relapse of cancer in a subject. The methods include isolating cells from a blood sample from the cancer subject thereby forming an isolated blood cell fraction that includes isolated blood sample cells, mixing the isolated blood sample cells with a cytokine, where the cytokine is selected from TGF, IL-10, IL-4 and IFN, and detecting the responsiveness of the isolated blood sample cells to the cytokine.

De novo designed polypeptides that bind to IL-2 receptor .sub.c heterodimer (IL-2R.sub.c), IL-4 receptor .sub.c heterodimer (IL-4R.sub.c), or IL-13 receptor subunit (IL-13R) are disclosed, as are methods for using and designing the polypeptides.

De novo designed polypeptides that bind to IL-2 receptor .sub.c heterodimer (IL-2R.sub.c), IL-4 receptor .sub.cheterodimer (IL-4R.sub.c), or IL-13 receptor subunit (IL-13R) are disclosed, as are methods for using and designing the polypeptides.

De novo designed polypeptides that bind to IL-2 receptor .sub.c heterodimer (IL-2R.sub.c), IL-4 receptor .sub.c heterodimer (IL-4R.sub.c), or IL-13 receptor subunit (IL-13R) are disclosed, as are methods for using and designing the polypeptides.

De novo designed polypeptides that bind to IL-2 receptor .sub.c heterodimer (IL-2R.sub.c), IL-4 receptor .sub.c heterodimer (IL-4R.sub.c), or IL-13 receptor subunit (IL-13R) are disclosed, as are methods for using and designing the polypeptides.

Disclosed herein are methods of identifying biomarkers (such as genes (e.g., RNA or mRNA), proteins, and/or small molecules) that can be used to predict organ or tissue function or dysfunction. In some embodiments, the methods include ex vivo perfusion of the organ or tissue, collection of samples from the organ or tissue (for example, perfusate, fluids produced by the organ (such as bile or urine), or tissue biopsies) and measuring the level of one or more biomarkers in the sample. It is also disclosed herein that an analysis of biomarkers (such as genes (e.g., RNA or mRNA), proteins, and/or small molecules) present in a biological sample from an organ, tissue, or subject can be used to identify whether the organ, tissue, or subject is at risk for (or has) organ dysfunction or organ failure.

De novo designed polypeptides that bind to IL-2 receptor .sub.c heterodimer (IL-2R.sub.c), IL-4 receptor .sub.c heterodimer (IL-4R.sub.c), or IL-13 receptor subunit (IL-13R) are disclosed, as are methods for using and designing the polypeptides.

The invention provides methods and compositions for treating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in an individual. The methods provided herein entail administering a composition comprising an isolated Mycobacterium or antigenic fragments derived therefrom. Also provided herein are methods for assessing alleviation of symptoms and/or alteration of immune system functioning following administration of a composition comprising an isolated Mycobacterium or antigenic fragments derived therefrom.

De novo designed polypeptides that bind to IL-2 receptor .sub.cheterodimer (IL-2R.sub.c), IL-4 receptor .sub.cheterodimer (IL-4R.sub.c), or IL-13 receptor subunit (IL-13R) are disclosed, as are methods for using and designing the polypeptides.