Kao builds technology that can stably store and transport RNA at room temperature

 Kao has evolved "sebum RNA monitoring" that grasps various states of the body and skin by analyzing sebum RNA collected from sebum, and has built a technology that can stably store and transport sebum RNA at room temperature.

This makes it possible to collect sebum RNA at various locations, including at home, and expands the situations in which sebum RNA monitoring can be utilized.

Using this technology, we will work with Healthcare Systems to develop a mail inspection service that enables consumers to grasp their health status while staying at home, and are working on tests for implementation in order to realize the service provision within 2022. I'm out.

Kao discovered that human RNA (ribonucleic acid) exists in sebum, and by constructing a unique analysis technology "sebum RNA monitoring" that comprehensively analyzes the RNA, various states of the body and skin. I have found that it may be possible to grasp.

Collection of sebum RNA has the advantage that it is easy and does not damage the skin, but if the collected sebum RNA is left at room temperature, it will be decomposed by the degrading enzyme that exists on the skin surface and is collected together with the sebum. In order to obtain stable analysis results, it is necessary to inhibit the action of enzymes to suppress the decomposition of sebum RNA. Until now, the method of storing at ultra-low temperature immediately after collection was used, but with this method, the collection location and There was a problem that opportunities were limited.

However, if it becomes possible to store and transport the collected sebum RNA at room temperature, it will be possible to collect sebum RNA at various locations including at home, and it will be possible to provide information to many people using sebum RNA monitoring. Therefore, we have constructed a technique for preserving and stabilizing sebum RNA against RNA-degrading enzymes present on human skin.

Enzymes that degrade RNA are known to be hydrolases that require water to work. Therefore, guanidine hydrochloride, which denatures the three-dimensional structure of RNA-degrading enzyme, and a desiccant that absorbs water in a short time were selected as activity inhibitors, and the usefulness of RNA derived from human skin cells for storage at room temperature was verified.

Sebum is collected from the faces of 6 adults (5 males and 1 female) with an oil removal film, and a certain amount of RNA derived from human skin cells is added and stored at -80 ° C (ultra-low temperature storage) and 37 ° C. Stored for 3 days with and without stabilizers (guadinin hydrochloride and desiccant).

As a result of quantitative evaluation of the residual rate of RNA, the amount of RNA decreased to near the detection limit at 37 ° C when there was no storage stabilizer compared to -80 ° C, whereas the storage stabilizer was used. It was clarified that the amount of RNA was maintained at almost the same level as -80 ° C in the case of. From this result, it was shown that RNA can be stored as stably as -80 ° C even at room temperature by using guanidine hydrochloride and a desiccant.

Kao has applied this technology to develop a container that can be stored at room temperature after collecting sebum RNA. As a result of conducting a test of sebum collection and room temperature transportation at home assuming actual service for 150 adult men and women (76 men and 74 women), sebum RNA was successfully analyzed in all cases. .. This showed the possibility of storing and transporting sebum RNA at room temperature and obtaining stable analysis results.

Based on these verification results, we are aiming to implement a mail inspection service using this sebum RNA monitoring technology in collaboration with Healthcare Systems, which develops and sells mail inspection kits with the theme of non-illness, which is a venture from Nagoya University. Development has started.

We are already working on a test for implementation, and aim to provide a mail inspection service within 2022 that enables consumers to grasp their health condition while staying at home.