Background and purpose: The paraoxonase (PON) gene family has been demonstrated to be capable of preventing lipid peroxidation and could consequently exert antiatherosclerotic effects. Alteration of enzyme activity due to polymorphisms in the PON genes may influence the development of atheroma and thus affect stroke risk. PON2, the second member of this family, has two polymorphisms, C311S and G148A. Our study explores the relationship between the two polymorphisms of PON2 and stroke.
Methods: 120 healthy individuals, 150 patients with primary cerebral hemorrhage and 180 patients with cerebral infarction were included in this study. The genotypes of PON2 were detected with polymerase chain reaction and digested by specific restriction enzymes.
Results: C311S and G148A polymorphisms of PON2 exist in Chinese people, with the allele frequencies 0.273/0.727 for C/S and 0.567/0.433 for G/A. No significant differences were observed in genotype and allele frequency between stroke patients and controls (p > 0.05).
Conclusions: There was no significant correlation between the two tested polymorphisms of PON2 and stroke in the Chinese population. Allele C/S and G/A might not be independent risk factors for stroke.
(c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.