News

－Blood Metabolomic Analysis Identifies Potential Biomarkers for Sarcopenia－

Human Life CORD Japan Inc. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Masamitsu Harata; hereinafter “HLC”), a company pioneering the practical application and global deployment of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (UC-MSCs) as regenerative medicine products, hereby announces that the results of a clinical research on sarcopenia conducted in collaboration with the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) were presented by Professor Renato Bandeira de Mello at the international conference The 16th Intrinsic Capacity, Frailty and Sarcopenia Research Conference for Healthy Longevity, held in the United States.

The research has been collaboratively conducted by HLC and the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul since January 2025, with the aim of advancing the understanding of sarcopenia pathophysiology and identifying associated biomarkers.

■ Background
Sarcopenia is a progressive age-related condition characterized by the loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, leading to a decline in physical function, and is recognized as one of the major health challenges in aging societies. However, the underlying mechanisms of its pathophysiology remain insufficiently understood, and there is a need to establish relevant biomarkers as objective diagnostic indicators and for evaluating treatment efficacy.

■ Methods
This prospective, exploratory research was conducted among 70 community-dwelling older adults in Brazil. Participants with both low muscle strength (handgrip strength) and low muscle quantity (appendicular skeletal muscle index) were classified as Sarcopenia group (n=23), while the remaining participants were classified as No sarcopenia group (n=47). Blood samples were comprehensively analyzed using metabolomics.

■ Results
Comprehensive metabolomic analysis of blood samples identified multiple metabolites with distinct profiles in the sarcopenia and No sarcopenia groups.The identified metabolite panel demonstrated strong discriminative ability for sarcopenia.
The metabolites identified in this research span multiple metabolic pathways associated with the pathophysiology of sarcopenia, suggesting the presence of a structured and measurable metabolic framework characterizing the condition. As this is exploratory and hypothesis-generating research, further validation is required for clinical application as predictive biomarkers.

Professor Emilio Hideyuki Moriguchi, Professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul and a co-investigator of this study, commented as follows:

 
【Conference Presentation Details】
[Conference Name] The Intrinsic Capacity, Frailty and Sarcopenia Research Conference for Healthy Longevity
[Dates] March 10–12, 2026
[Venue] The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center
[Presentation Format] Poster Presentation
[Presenter]
Renato Bandeira de Mello, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine,Faculty of Medicine, the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
[Presentation Title]
“SarcMet Study: A Metabolomic-Derived Plasma Biologic Signature of Sarcopenia Using Untargeted Metabolomics in Community-Dwelling Older Adults”

■ Future Outlook
In addition, through its collaboration with New York Blood Center in the United States, HLC is promoting the standardization of manufacturing and quality control processes in Japan and the United States. HLC is also establishing global supply capabilities to consistently deliver high-quality cellular products.
Through these efforts, HLC aims to accelerate the practical application of cell therapy for sarcopenia and contribute to extending healthy life expectancy and improving QOL in aging societies worldwide.
 

 
■About the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
( https://www.ufrgs.br/site/english/ufrgs/ )
The Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), founded in 1934, is a leading public university in Brazil and is widely recognized as one of the country’s top institutions for education and research. The university has a strong track record of excellence across a wide range of academic disciplines, with particular leadership in the field of medicine, especially in research on aging and age-related diseases.
Leveraging Brazil’s diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, UFRGS conducts advanced research supported by extensive and diverse data collection.

■About Human Life CORD Japan Inc.
(https://humanlifecord.com/en/)
Human Life CORD Japan Inc. (HLC) is clinically developing novel cellular therapy products derived from domestically sourced, stockpiled umbilical cords, thereby providing hope to patients suffering from intractable diseases for which established treatment has not been available so far. Looking ahead, HLC is committed to advancing its vision to create a world where everyone can live a rich and fulfilling life with healthy life expectancy, through providing future healthcare aimed at preventing disease progression.
In recognition of our efforts, we have received numerous awards and distinctions: The Grand Prize & Tokyo Metropolitan Governor’s Award at “the First Tokyo Venture Corporate Championship Conference” (2019); selected as a beneficiary in the “Deep Ecosystem” program of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government “Start-up Ecosystem Tokyo Consortium”; the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Award at the 5th Japan Open Innovation Prize hosted by the Cabinet Office in 2023; selected by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) for its J-Startup support program in 2023; the Grand Prize in the Startup Category at the Courageous Management Awards (2024), organized by the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
 

 
[Contact]
Human Life CORD Japan Inc.
Public Relations: info@humanlifecord.com