NK Max "Confirming the Relationship Between NK Cell Activity and Hypertension Using NK View Kit"

NKMAX announced on the 2nd that research results confirming the correlation between NK cell activity and hypertension were published using its NK Vue® Kit.

The study results were a retrospective analysis of the relationship between NK cell activity and hypertension in 1,453 adult men and women, conducted by Chaum's Lee Yoon-kyung (first author), Seo Eun-kyung, Oh Hyo-joo, and Bundang CHA Hospital's Kim Young-sang (corresponding author) and Ham Ji-hee. NKMAX's immune function testing kit, the NK Vue Kit, was used to measure NK cell activity.

The study found that lower NK cell activity was associated with a higher incidence of hypertension. The research team divided NK cell activity into four groups and observed the correlation with hypertension over 5 years (average 2.13 years). As blood pressure increased, NK cell activity significantly decreased, and the group with NK cell activity of 300pg/mL (picograms per milliliter) or less had a 1.6 times higher incidence of hypertension compared to the group with 1700pg/mL or more.

The NK Vue Kit developed by NKMAX is an in vitro diagnostic kit that can measure NK cell activity with 1cc of blood. The results are categorized into four sections: ▲Abnormal (below 100pg/mL) ▲Borderline (100?250pg/mL) ▲Concern (250?500pg/mL) ▲Normal (above 500pg/mL). NK cells are immune cells that detect and eliminate abnormal cells such as cancer cells or virus-infected cells on their own, and higher NK cell activity indicates stronger immunity. While previous NK cell-related studies confirmed correlations with immunity, cancer, and aging, this is the first to confirm a correlation with hypertension, a vascular disease.

An NKMAX representative said, "Based on the newly confirmed correlation between NK cell activity and hypertension through this study, low NK cell activity may affect hypertension in the long term. Our immune function testing kit, the NK Vue Kit, is expected to be used as an important indicator in hypertension management."