Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions related to treating and preventing an age-related disease and inhibiting cell death using thymosin proteins.

Abstract: Methods for the detection, monitoring, and treatment of cardiac fibrosis, progression of cardiac fibrosis, or heart failure in a subject comprising: (a) contacting a sample obtained from the subject with a binding agent that binds a region of cartilage intermediate layer protein 1 (CILP) that spans the cleavage site of the CILP precursor or a nucleotide encoding same. The cardiac fibrosis may be associated with one or more of: ischemia, congenital defect, familial fibrosis, infiltrative fibrosis, idiopathic fibrosis, amyloidosis, hemosiderosis, valvular disease, and other idiopathic cardiomyopathies.

Abstract: Composition and methods are provided for the prospective enrichment of human cardiovascular progenitor cells, which can be differentiated into cardiomyocytes, from in vitro cultures of stem cells. The stem cells are cultured in conditions permissive for differentiation into cardiovascular progenitor cells, and cardiovascular progenitor cells are sorted for expression of one or more of the markers ROR2, CD13, KDR and PDGF?R, where the progenitor cells positively express these markers. Highly enriched populations of cardiomyocyte lineage cells can be obtained.

Abstract: Methods of inhibiting bacterial adhesion to medical implants and reducing device-associated infection are effectuated by administering an effective amount of apo-transferrin to an individual with such an implant. Preferably the apo-transferrin is administered by controlled release at or near the implant.