Leukemia Inhibitory Factor also called LIF is a lymphoid factor that promotes long-term maintenance of embryonic stem cells by suppressing spontaneous differentiation. Leukemia Inhibitory Factor has several functions such as cholinergic neuron differentiation, control of stem cell pluripotency, bone and fat metabolism, mitogenesis of factor dependent cell lines and promotion of megakaryocyte production in vivo. Human and mouse LIF exhibit a 78 % identity in its amino acid sequence Synonyms: CDF, HILDA, D-FACTOR, Differentiation- stimulating factor, Melanoma-derived LPL inhibitor, MLPLI, Emfilermin, Leukemia inhibitory factor, LIF, DIA