Antibodies and antigen binding fragments that specifically bind to IL-7Rα are disclosed. Nucleic acids encoding the antibodies and antigen binding fragments, and vectors including the nucleic acid molecules are also provided. Methods for detecting a ca cancer or a cell that expresses IL-7Rα using the antibodies and antigen binding fragments are disclosed, as is the use of the antibodies and antigen binding fragments to prevent and/or treat a subject with a cancer that expresses IL-7Rα, such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

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.

Disclosed herein is a T-helper cell (T.sub.H-GM cell) that is regulated by IL-7/STAT5 and which secrete GM-CSF/IL-3. Also disclosed are methods and compositions for modulating T.sub.H-GM function for the treatment of, e.g., inflammatory disorders. Diagnostic and prognostic methods for specifically identifying T.sub.H-GM-mediated inflammatory disorders (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis), as distinct from and/or in addition to non-T.sub.H-GM-mediated (e.g., TNF--mediated) inflammatory disorders, are also provided.

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, C-C motif chemokine 1, C-C motif chemokine 17, C-C motif chemokine 21, C-C 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.

Disclosed herein is a T-helper cell (T.sub.H-GM cell) that is regulated by IL-7/STAT5 and which secrete GM-CSF/IL-3. Also disclosed are methods and compositions for modulating T.sub.H-GM function for the treatment of, e.g., inflammatory disorders. Diagnostic and prognostic methods for specifically identifying T.sub.H-GM-mediated inflammatory disorders (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis), as distinct from and/or in addition to non-T.sub.H-GM-mediated (e.g., TNF--mediated) inflammatory disorders, are also provided.

The present invention relates to a method for identifying inhibitors of breast cancer metastasis based on a screening with proteins that are specific for the secretome of a chondrocyte, preferably cytokines and/or chemokines. The ligands as identified lead to a decrease of the migration and/or a re-differentiation of a breast cancer cell and/or a reduction of the number and/or size of breast cancer metastases. The present invention further relates to a method for detecting breast cancer metastasis, comprising the step of detecting at least one protein that is specific for the secretome of a chondrocyte, and for methods for treating and/or preventing breast cancer metastasis in a patient in need thereof, comprising the step of administering an effective amount of at least one ligand for one protein that is specific for the secretome of a chondrocyte to said patient in need thereof.

The invention relates to antibodies directed against CD127, the alpha chain of the interleukin 7 (IL-7) receptor IL-7R), and which have antagonist properties for IL-7-IL-7R interaction, may present cytotoxic activity against CD127 positive cells but do not increase the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) induced by TSLP, a cytokine also using CD127 as part of its receptor. Alternatively, or in addition, these antibodies do not induce the internalization of CD127 and/or inhibit the IL7-induced internalization of CD127. According to another aspect of the invention antibodies are provided which recognize a human CD127 epitope comprising sequences from the 2b site of CD127, in particular the epitope comprising comprises the human CD127 sequences of domain D1 and of the 2b site of CD127, in particular the epitope comprises at least one sequence from D1 comprising SEQ ID No: 115 (in particular comprising SEQ ID No: 110) and/or SEQ ID No: 111 and/or a sequence from the 2b site comprising the sequence of SEQ ID No: 116 and optionally also comprises SEQ ID No: 117 (in particular comprises SEQ ID No: 111). The antibodies of the invention are suitable for use in order to remedy to a condition diagnosed in a human patient which results from pathogenesis related to lymphopoiesis, when IL-7 signalling pathways provide contribution to said pathogenesis, especially when an increase in the maturation, more precisely the upregulation of costimulatory molecules, of dendritic cells is undesirable.

The invention provides methods of increasing the efficacy of a T cell therapy in a patient in need thereof. The invention includes methods of identifying a patient who would respond well to a T cell therapy or conditioning a patient prior to a T cell therapy so that the patient responds well to a T cell therapy. The conditioning involves administering one or more preconditioning agents prior to a T cell therapy and identifying biomarker cytokines prior to administering a T cell therapy.

The present invention relates to a method for identifying inhibitors of breast cancer metastasis based on a screening with proteins that are specific for the secretome of a chondrocyte, preferably cytokines and/or chemokines. The ligands as identified lead to a decrease of the migration and/or a re-differentiation of a breast cancer cell and/or a reduction of the number and/or size of breast cancer metastases. The present invention further relates to a method for detecting breast cancer metastasis, comprising the step of detecting at least one protein that is specific for the secretome of a chondrocyte, and for methods for treating and/or preventing breast cancer metastasis in a patient in need thereof, comprising the step of administering an effective amount of at least one ligand for one protein that is specific for the secretome of a chondrocyte to said patient in need thereof.

Antibodies and antigen binding fragments that specifically bind to IL-7R are disclosed. Nucleic acids encoding the antibodies and antigen binding fragments, and vectors including the nucleic acid molecules are also provided. Methods for detecting a ca cancer or a cell that expresses IL-7R using the antibodies and antigen binding fragments are disclosed, as is the use of the antibodies and antigen binding fragments to prevent and/or treat a subject with a cancer that expresses IL-7R, such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia.