7-α-Hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one (C4) is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of bile acids from cholesterol. The precursor to C4 is 7α-hydroxycholesterol, which is produced from cholesterol via the hepatic enzyme, 7α-hydroxylase. 7-α-hydroxylase catalyzes the rate-limiting step in bile acid synthesis and its activity is tightly regulated via the FXR receptor. Measurement of the stable metabolite C4, a product of the next oxidative enzymatic reaction after 7-α-hydroxylase, is reflective of hepatic de novo bile acid synthesis and FXR receptor activation. Bile acid malabsorption is associated with a variety of gastrointestinal pathologies (eg, irritable bowel syndrome, ileal disease) and is characterized by elevated serum C4 levels.
Metabolomics reveals biological insights otherwise unseen. For a successful metabolomics study, both small molecule discovery and the ability to dig deeper into specific biomarkers of interest are needed to uncover actionable insights that propel new therapeutic developments. A specific combination of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) technology and biochemical expertise is required to identify this biomarker of interest and develop an assay that is sensitive enough to explore it fully.
At Metabolon, we understand the crucial role C4 plays in a number of diseases, and we’ve established best-in-class expertise for its detection. This C4 assay can be used to track biomarkers and enhance biological understanding across preclinical and clinical research.
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| LLOQa |
|---|
| Serum/Plasma (pg/mL) |
| 240 pg/mL |
aLower Limit of Quantitation (LLOQ) varies for each sample type.
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| Sample Type | Sample Requirements |
|---|---|
| Plasma/Serum | ≥ 250 µL |
Others on request
Disclaimer: This panel is for Research Use Only and is not to be used for diagnostic purposes.
Our readily available or custom developed quantitative assays help you achieve your research and biomarker validation objectives with precise and fully validated methods. Our targeted assays and panels cover more than 1,000 metabolites and lipids across a wide range of biochemical classes, metabolic pathways, and physiological processes, and they can be customized to best fit any application.
Diabetes, a serious metabolic condition that results from the inability to regulate blood sugar levels, is a worldwide epidemic. According to the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, more than 30 million Americans and 422 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with diabetes. Yet much remains unknown about how diabetes develops, why certain individuals are at increased risk, and whether the metabolic dysregulation can be corrected rather than merely managed.
Metabolomics enables simultaneous assessment of hundreds of compounds present in living systems, making it a critical tool that advances our understanding of disease mechanisms and opens doors to identify novel targets and treatments for conditions like diabetes.
Much about digestive diseases remains a mystery. Digestive disease includes a broad range of gastrointestinal-related health issues, ranging from chronic constipation to gastrointestinal infections to viral hepatitis. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is estimated to impact between 25 and 45 million Americans and about 10 to 15 percent of the population worldwide. Although the exact cause of IBS is unknown, diet and microbiome are recurring influences. The unique ability for metabolomics to illuminate function, including those of microorganisms inhabiting the digestive tract, makes the technology a valuable tool for understanding IBS and other digestive conditions.
The liver is the single most important regulator of metabolic homeostasis at the organismal level. That makes metabolomics an indispensable tool for capturing an integrative profile of an individual’s liver function. As the incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) continues to rise, researchers and health-care providers can look to Metabolon to provide much-needed non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic indicators as well as a fundamental understanding of pathological processes. The metabolome integrates an individual’s genetic makeup and gene expression profile with nongenetic factors such as diet, environmental exposures, and the microbiome. Therefore layering metabolomic analysis onto genomic and transcriptomic data provides the best opportunity to understand disease.
Heart failure is a leading cause of death worldwide, and there are numerous factors that lead to this and other cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Metabolomics can illuminate cardiovascular disease at multiple levels. In preclinical studies, such as with cardiomyocytes or heart tissue from model organisms, understanding mitochondrial function, energetics, and redox status can drive critical insights into disease mechanism. In human studies, metabolomics offers the opportunity to account for well-established CVD risk factors such as cholesterol and complex lipids, while simultaneously profiling thousands of other biochemicals in an unbiased fashion to enable the discovery of novel disease mechanisms and biomarkers.
Once you see the full value of metabolomics, the only remaining question is: who does it best? While many laboratories have metabolite profiling or analytical chemistry capabilities, comprehensive metabolomics technologies are extremely rare.
Accurate, unbiased metabolite identification across the entire metabolome introduces signal-to-noise challenges that very few labs are equipped to handle. Also, translating massive quantities of data into actionable information is slow, if not impossible, for most because proper interpretation takes two things that are in short supply: experience and a comprehensive database.
Using our robust platform and visualization tools, our experts are uniquely able to tell you more about your molecule and develop assay panels to help you zero in on the results you need.
Coverage
Ability to interrogate thousands of metabolites across diverse biochemical space, revealing new insights and opportunities
Comparability
Ability to integrate the data from different studies into the same dataset, in different geographies, among different patients over time
Competency
Ability to inform on proper study design, generate high‐quality data, derive biological insights, and make actionable recommendations
Capacity
Ability to process hundreds of thousands of samples quickly and cost‐efficiently to service rapidly growing demand
Request a quote for our services, get more information on sample types and handling procedures, request a letter of support, or submit a question about how metabolomics can advance your research.
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