Abstract: A method for treating and/or reducing the risk of a viral infection in a human subject, including administering a pharmaceutical composition including Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) protein to a subject in need thereof, wherein the composition is administered by inhalation.

Abstract: A genetically modified mesenchymal stem cell including an exogenous nucleic acid including a Klotho encoding region operably linked to a promoter or promoter/enhancer combination, wherein the genetically modified mesenchymal stem cell exhibits increased Klotho expression compared to an unmodified mesenchymal stem cell. Also disclosed are methods of treating a patient including administering a therapeutically effective number of the genetically modified mesenchymal stem cells to the patient. The methods of treatment include treating the patient for a neurodegenerative disease; cancer; organ fibrosis; renal disease; age-related changes of organs or organ systems; to slow, reverse and/or inhibit aging; arteriosclerosis; dementia; diabetes mellitus; erectile dysfunction; autoimmune diseases or autoimmune-related diseases; an inflammatory disease of the lung and sepsis.

Abstract: The present invention is a kit for the determination of a neurodegenerative disease wherein separately from each other the content of kynurenine and kynurenic acid in a body fluid is determined and the quotient of the content of kynurenine to the content of kynurenic acid is calculated.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an in vitro method for the determination of a neurodegenerative disease wherein separately from each other the content of kynurenine and kynurenic acid in a body fluid is determined and the quotient of the content of kynurenine to the content of kynurenic acid is calculated.

Abstract: A genetically modified mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) includes an exogenous nucleic acid that includes a Klotho encoding region operably linked to a promoter or promoter/enhancer combination. The MSCs can be used for the treatment of cancer, organ fibrosis, renal failure, age-related changes of organs or organ systems, arteriosclerosis, and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Multiple sclerosis (MS), Huntington's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease, and Schizophrenia, as well as dementia, diabetes mellitus, sepsis and autoimmune diseases and autoimmune-related diseases.