Sysmex Corporation (HQ: Kobe, Japan; Chairman and CEO: Hisashi Ietsugu) will provide high-density lipoprotein (HDL) function measurement (for research) as a research assay service, leveraging the Company’s measurement platform and assay-related expertise.
Through this service, Sysmex aims to contribute toward the creation of new methods for diagnosing and treating atherosclerosis-related diseases.

HDL removes cholesterol accumulated in the blood vessels and transports it to the liver, helping to prevent the onset and progression of atherosclerosis. The HDL cholesterol measured during physicals provides a measurement of the amount of cholesterol present within HDL, but recently HDL’s ability to remove and transport cholesterol (HDL function) has been reported as effective in the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease. However, conventional methods of assessing HDL function involve complex measurement procedures and require specialized facilities. The testing process also takes several days.

Since 2013, Sysmex has been promoting joint research in the Division of Evidence-Based Laboratory Medicine (Sysmex) with the Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, involving verification of the clinical utility of molecular markers related to coronary arterial disease. The creation of a new measurement method related to HDL function and the measurement method itself have been published in “Cholesterol Uptake Capacity: A New Measure of HDL Functionality for Coronary Risk Assessment” (J Appl Lab Med. 2017 Sep 2 (2) 186–200). This paper also describes successes in discovering the potential of HDL function as a coronary arterial disease risk marker. Furthermore, by using our own immunochemistry measurement platform, the HI-1000—an Automated High-sensitive Immunoassay System for Research Applications—we have automated this new measurement system, allowing HDL function to be assessed in around 30 minutes.

Sysmex will now begin providing HDL function measurement as a research assay service. We will support research by providing HDL function measurement to researchers on blood lipids and various diseases, measuring the specimens we receive at the Sysmex facility for lab-assay services and delivering the results. Through this service, we aim to aid in the amassing of broad-ranging clinical evidence, including HDL-targeted drug discovery and epidemiological research, as well as helping to prevent atherosclerosis-related diseases and provide treatment opportunities.

Furthermore, as a research assay service for protein biomarkers using the HI-1000, we plan to expand our lineup of research measurement parameters outside HDL function measurement. In addition, in response to customers’ research needs we are using our own technologies and expertise to support research in such areas as using protein synthesis technology employing silkworms to develop reagent ingredients and reagents. (Research assay service website (Japanese only): http://lifescience.sysmex.co.jp/products/hi1000/index.html

Going forward, Sysmex will continue to provide research assay services using its proprietary measurement platforms and technologies in the aim of realizing personalized medicine, promoting R&D toward the application of high-value biomarkers in clinical settings, and working with customers to help achieve advances in healthcare.