Abstract: A method for the in vitro production of lines of immortalized neural precursor cells, including cell lines having neuronal and/or glial cell characteristics, comprises the step of infecting neuroepithelium or neural crest cells with a retroviral vector carrying a member of the myc family of oncogenes.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method for, and pharmaceutical compositions useful in, the treatment of thrombocytopenia in a mammal by the administration of an effective amount of leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and/or its derivatives and optionally in combination with one or more other cytokines.

Abstract: A method for capturing amplified target DNA on a solid substrate comprising incorporating a ligand into said DNA by a polymerase chain reaction using a set of primers wherein one of the primers bears the ligand, and contacting the so treated DNA with a solid substrate having a binding reagent for said ligand immobilized thereon.

Abstract: A diagnostic test for detection of antinuclear antibody anti-La in a serum sample, comprises contacting the serum sample with a support having immobilised thereon a synthetic polypeptide displaying the antigenicity of all or a portion of the human autoantigen La, or an antigenically active fragment thereof, and detecting the presence of anti-La antibody bound to the synthetic polypeptide or fragment.

Abstract: Leukemia-inhibitory factor (LIF) has been produced in essentially pure form from murine or human sources. A method of purifying this LIF is disclosed, as well as polypeptides having LIF activity which are not identical in amino acid sequence to any naturally occurring form of LIF. The polypeptides can be used for hindering the proliferation of myeloid Leukemia cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing recombinant leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) by the expression, in suitable host cells, of recombinant DNA molecules encoding LIF.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the isolation of leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) genes from livestock species, the expression of said genes in recombinant vectors and the isolation of the recombinant LIF molecules and the use of livestock species LIF to enhance the in vitro development of an embryo to the implantation stage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) in the enhancement of development and maintenance of mammalian embryos, particularly sheep embryos. It has been observed that following the introduction into foster mothers of embryos cultured in vitro in the presence of LIF, the maintenance of pregnancy is enhanced relative to that seen following introduction of embryos that had not been cultured with LIF prior to introduction into foster mothers.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates a method for detecting a cytokine in a sample, said method comprising contacting an effective mount of said sample with an effective mount of SPGM-1 cells for a time and under appropriate conditions and then testing for the maintenance of said cells without loss of clonogenicity and tumorigenicity.

Abstract: A DNA molecule is provided which comprises a nucleotide sequence substantially corresponding to all or a portion of the base sequence coding for the mitochondrial autoantigen of primary biliary cirrhosis. This DNA molecule may be linked to an expression control sequence. A synthetic peptide or polypeptide is provided which includes at least an amino acid sequence substantially as shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 8. This synthetic peptide or polypeptide may be prepared by expression of a host cell which has been transformed with a recombinant DNA molecule as described above, or by chemical synthesis.

Abstract: A leukaemia-inhibitory factor (LIF) is disclosed, together with a method of preparation of LIF in essentially pure form. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences are disclosed, together with recombinant DNA moleclues and host cells for production of polypeptides having LIF activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the use of leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) in the maintenance and derivation of embryonic stem (ES) cells in culture. The ES cells are maintained and/or derived from animal embryos by culturing said cells or embryos in a culture medium containing an effective amount of LIF for a time and under conditions sufficient to maintain and/or derive said ES cells. The ES cells may be passaged in LIF and used to make chimaeric animals.