INHIBITION OF MIGRATION INHIBITORY FACTOR IN THE TREATMENT OF DISEASES INVOLVING CYTOKINE-MEDIATED TOXICITY

1 . A detection kit, comprising:

(a) an antibody or antigen-binding fragment or fusion protein thereof that specifically binds to human macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) protein, wherein the human MIF protein has a molecular weight of approximately 12.5 kDa as determined by SDS PAGE;

(b) a detectable label, whereby the binding of the antibody or antigen-binding fragment or fusion protein to the human MIF protein can be detected.

2 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein (a) is the antibody.

3 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein (a) is the antigen-binding fragment.

4 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein (a) is the fusion protein.

5 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein (a) is the antibody, and the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.

6 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the detectable label comprises one or more enzymes.

7 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the detectable label comprises one or more fluorescent dyes.

8 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the detectable label comprises one or more colored beads.

9 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the detectable label comprises one or more magnetic beads.

10 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the human MIF protein exhibits MIF biological activity.

11 . A method of using the diagnostic kit of claim 1 , comprising contacting a sample with (a) and (b).

12 . A method of making the diagnostic kit of claim 1 , comprising providing (a) and (b) together to result in the diagnostic kit.

13 . A method for detecting human macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) protein in a sample, comprising:

(a) contacting the sample with the kit of claim 1 ; and

(b) determining the presence or absence of human MIF protein in the sample, wherein if the human MIF protein is detected, then the human MIF protein is present in the sample, and wherein if the human MIF protein is not detected, then the human MIF protein is not present in the sample.