Described herein are assays useful for the quantitation of total LIF from biological samples.

The invention relates to antibodies directed against human Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF) and to a hybridoma cell line producing said antibodies. The invention also relates to a method for blocking/inhibiting the proliferation of stem cells, and to an in vitro method for the diagnosis of diseases associated with unwanted cell proliferation in a subject or for determining the predisposition of a subject to suffer from said disease associated with unwanted cell proliferation, or for prognosis of average life expectancy of a subject suffering from said disease. The therapeutic potential of said antibodies is based on observing that the inhibition of LIF can be used in therapeutic compositions for the treatment of diseases associated with unwanted proliferation.

Provided herein is a method for measuring the levels of chronic inflammaging (SCI) of a subject. In some embodiments, the method may comprise measuring the amount of two or more of the proteins CXCL9, TRAIL, IFNG, EOTAXIN and GROA in a sample (e.g., blood serum) from the subject calculating a score based on the weighted amounts of each of those proteins.

Adherent stromal cells cultured under three dimensional conditions are provided, characterized, and distinguished from adherent stromal cells cultured under two dimensional conditions.

The invention relates to antibodies directed against human Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF) and to a hybridoma cell line producing said antibodies. The invention also relates to a method for blocking/inhibiting the proliferation of stem cells, and to an in vitro method for the diagnosis of diseases associated with unwanted cell proliferation in a subject or for determining the predisposition of a subject to suffer from said disease associated with unwanted cell proliferation, or for prognosis of average life expectancy of a subject suffering from said disease. The therapeutic potential of said antibodies is based on observing that the inhibition of LIF can be used in therapeutic compositions for the treatment of diseases associated with unwanted proliferation.

Provided herein is a method for measuring the levels of chronic inflammaging (SCI) of a subject. In some embodiments, the method may comprise measuring the amount of two or more of the proteins C-X-C motif ligand 9 (CXCL9), TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), interferon gamma (IFNG), eosinophil chemotactic protein (EOTAXIN) and growth-regulated alpha protein (GROA) in a sample (e.g., blood serum) from the subject calculating a score based on the weighted amounts of each of those proteins.

The present invention relates to metal nanoparticles and a plasmonic biosensor including the same. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide novel metal nanoparticles having significantly improved sensitivity to light, and further, it is possible to provide a plasmonic biosensor capable of detecting a trace amount of a biomarker present in a biological sample with high precision through the metal nanoparticles. In addition, the plasmonic biosensor is capable of detecting a sepsis biomarker with high sensitivity and specificity, and thus may be usefully used in various clinical applications such as sepsis diagnosis, identification of the type of organ dysfunction, prediction of sepsis severity, and post-treatment.