The object is to provide a novel enzyme exhibiting cholesterol dehydrogenase activity. Provided is a mutant enzyme having an amino acid sequence of a microorganism-derived cholesterol oxidase, which is composed of: (1) an amino acid corresponding to the amino acid at the position 113 of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; (2) an amino acid corresponding to the amino acid at the position 362 of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; (3) an amino acid corresponding to the amino acid at the position 402 of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; (4) an amino acid corresponding to the amino acid at the position 412 of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; (5) an amino acid corresponding to the amino acid at the position 468 of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; and others.

The present invention relates to a method for measuring the cholesterol uptake capacity of lipoproteins. The present invention also relates to a reagent kit for measuring the cholesterol uptake capacity of lipoproteins. The present invention further relates to a tagged cholesterol which can be used in the method and the reagent kit.

The present invention relates to a method for measuring the cholesterol uptake capacity of lipoproteins. The present invention also relates to a reagent kit for measuring the cholesterol uptake capacity of lipoproteins. The present invention further relates to a tagged cholesterol which can be used in the method and the reagent kit.

Methods of treating subjects having diseases, disorders, or conditions, including disorders associated with cholesterol homeostasis, responsive to agents modulating Kupffer cell function, including methods of administration and dosing regimens associated therewith, are provided. Methods of treating subjects having liver diseases, disorders, or conditions, including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, with an IL-10 agent are also provided.

The use of dihydrocholesterol (DHC) in low doses of up to 50 mg per kg of body weight to treat or prevention excess weight or obesity and/or hyperlipidemia, and/or a disorders associated with any of the foregoing, and a composition comprising DHC.

The use of dihydrocholesterol (DHC) in low doses of up to 50 mg per kg of body weight to treat or prevention excess weight or obesity and/or hyperlipidemia, and/or a disorders associated with any of the foregoing, and a composition comprising DHC.

A use of a substance for inhibiting SOAT1 gene expression and/or protein activity. The use is selected from at least one of: (a) Preparation of kits for liver cancer diagnosis; (b) Preparation of kits for liver cancer prognosis; (c) Preparation of companion diagnostic kits for treatment of liver cancer; (d) For the preparation of drugs for the prevention and/or treatment of cancer; (e) For the preparation of drugs for the prevention and/treatment of cancer spread and metastasis; (f) For the preparation of drugs that promote the apoptosis of cancer cells; (g) For the preparation of drugs for inhibiting cancer cell formation; (h) For the preparation of drugs that inhibit the proliferation and growth of cancer cells in vitro. Experiments have shown that SOAT1 is highly expressed in liver cancer tissues and serum, and its high abundance indicates poor prognosis of liver cancer patients.

A biorelevant precursor composition suitable, upon dispersing, dilution or suspension in an aqueous medium, for simulating fed-state gastric fluids of mammalian species, wherein said biorelevant precursor composition comprises a substantially solid/sol-id-like concentrate, a viscous gel-like concentrate, or a liquid fat dispersion/concentrate, comprising at least one primary component selected from each of the following groups of primary components comprising: i) Triglyceride and/or diglyceride and/or monoglyceride or any combinations thereof in an amount of from 1-70% by weight; ii) Lecithin and/or lysolecithin in an amount of from 1-45% by weight; iii) Carbohydrate in an amount of from 15-70% by weight; and iv) Water or other aqueous medium in an amount of from 1-70% by weight; wherein the weight ratio of total fats (one or more primary components from each of groups i) and ii) combined): total carbohydrates (one or more primary components from group iii) combined) is between 20:1 to 1:20; and the weight ratio of glyceride:lecithin and/or lysolecithin is between 45:1 and 1:45; and in addition at least one additional component selected from at least one of the following: (i) fatty acids (between 0.01-15% by weight); (ii) bile acid/salt (between 0.01-3% by weight); (iii) enzymes (between 0.01-2% by weight); (iv) cholesterol, sterols (between 0.01-5% by weight); (v) buffer agents (between 0.01-4% by weight); (vi) osmotic agents (between 0.01-10% by weight); 52 (vii) proteins (collagen, protein hydrolysates, amino acids) (between 0.01-30% by weight); (viii) mucin (between 0.1-5% by weight); (ix) viscosity modifier (between 0.1-5% by weight); and (x) preservatives, stabilizers (between 0.01-3% by weight), such as a) anti-oxidants, b) chelating agents, c) buffers (inorganic or organic), and d) antimicrobials; all percentages being by dry weight. A method of producing these compositions is also provided.

A biorelevant precursor composition suitable, upon dispersing, dilution or suspension in an aqueous medium, for simulating fed-state gastric fluids of mammalian species, wherein said biorelevant precursor composition comprises a substantially solid/sol-id-like concentrate, a viscous gel-like concentrate, or a liquid fat dispersion/concentrate, comprising at least one primary component selected from each of the following groups of primary components comprising: i) Triglyceride and/or diglyceride and/or monoglyceride or any combinations thereof in an amount of from 1-70% by weight; ii) Lecithin and/or lysolecithin in an amount of from 1-45% by weight; iii) Carbohydrate in an amount of from 15-70% by weight; and iv) Water or other aqueous medium in an amount of from 1-70% by weight; wherein the weight ratio of total fats (one or more primary components from each of groups i) and ii) combined): total carbohydrates (one or more primary components from group iii) combined) is between 20:1 to 1:20; and the weight ratio of glyceride:lecithin and/or lysolecithin is between 45:1 and 1:45; and in addition at least one additional component selected from at least one of the following: (i) fatty acids (between 0.01-15% by weight); (ii) bile acid/salt (between 0.01-3% by weight); (iii) enzymes (between 0.01-2% by weight); (iv) cholesterol, sterols (between 0.01-5% by weight); (v) buffer agents (between 0.01-4% by weight); (vi) osmotic agents (between 0.01-10% by weight); 52 (vii) proteins (collagen, protein hydrolysates, amino acids) (between 0.01-30% by weight); (viii) mucin (between 0.1-5% by weight); (ix) viscosity modifier (between 0.1-5% by weight); and (x) preservatives, stabilizers (between 0.01-3% by weight), such as a) anti-oxidants, b) chelating agents, c) buffers (inorganic or organic), and d) antimicrobials; all percentages being by dry weight. A method of producing these compositions is also provided.

A disposable sensor chip for biological component concentration measurement includes: a chip main body defining a cavity through which a body fluid is flowable; and a reagent located in the cavity such that the body fluid flowing through the cavity comes into contact with the reagent. The reagent comprises a 2-substituted benzothiazolyl-3-substituted phenyl-5-substituted sulfonated phenyl-2H-tetrazolium salt.