Abstract: The invention provides a method of reducing cancer progression comprising administering a Mx polypeptide or Mx-encoding nucleic acid to a host, such that the growth rate of the cancer cells is reduced, the metastatic potential of the cancer cells is reduced, or both. The invention also provides a method of assessing the metastatic potential of a cancer comprising (a) obtaining a sample of the cancer, (b) determining the level of Mx, Mx-nucleic acid, or both in the sample, and (c) comparing the level of Mx, Mx-encoding nucleic acid, or both with a control.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preventing senescence and death of somatic cells by culturing the cells in the presence of serum and follicular fluid or components of follicular fluid. The somatic cells with a limited lifespan in vitro acquire properties of stem cells and can be passaged continuously, but only in the continuing presence of follicular fluid or components thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to purified proteins induced in human cells by interferon .alpha. or .beta., RNAs, DNAs and hybrid vectors coding for said proteins, hosts transformed with such a hybrid vector, processes for the preparation and purification of these proteins, DNAs, vectors and hosts, monoclonal antibodies specific to these proteins, monoclonal antibody derivatives, hybridoma cell lines secreting these monoclonal antibodies, the use of the monoclonal antibodies and their derivatives in the qualitative and quantitative determination of these proteins, test kits containing the monoclonal antibodies, and pharmaceutical preparations containing said proteins. A protein of the invention shows antiviral properties ascribed to interferons and may be a valuable indicator of the cell response to an interferon therapy.

Abstract: The invention relates to purified proteins induced in human cells by interferon .alpha. or .beta., RNAs, DNAs and hybrid vectors coding for said proteins, hosts transformed with such a hybrid vector, processes for the preparation and purification of these proteins, DNAs, vectors and hosts, monoclonal antibodies specific to these proteins, monoclonal antibody derivatives, hybridoma cell lines secreting these monoclonal antibodies, the use of the monoclonal antibodies and their derivatives in the qualitative and quantitative determination of these proteins, test kits containing the monoclonal antibodies, and pharmaceutical preparations containing said proteins. A protein of the invention shows antiviral properties ascribed to interferons and may be a valuable indicator of the cell response to an interferon therapy.