Objectives: Paraoxonase (PON1) is a high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-associated esterase that hydrolyses lipoperoxides. PON1 serves as a protective factor against oxidative modification of LDL, suggesting that it may play an important role in the prevention of atherosclerotic process. Research has focused on two polymorphisms: leucine (L allele) to methionine (M allele) substitution at codon 55, and glutamine (A allele) to arginine (B allele) substitution at codon 192.
Study design: We examined amino acid changes at codon 55 and 192 in the PON1 gene by polymerase chain reaction and using restriction enzymes in 120 patients (92 men, 28 women; mean age 48.2+/-4.3 years) with premature coronary artery disease (CAD) and in 102 healthy subjects (80 men, 22 women; mean age 46.8+/-5.2 years) with no history of CAD and a normal electrocardiogram.
Results: Distribution of genotypes in the patient and control groups at codon 55 were 6.7% and 4.9% for MM, 46.7% and 29.4% for LM, 46.7% and 65.7% for LL, respectively. The frequency of genotypes at codon 192 were as follows: 4.2% and 2% for RR, 40% and 35.3% for QR, and 55.8% and 62.8% for QQ, respectively. While the frequency of PON1 55M allele was higher in the CAD group (0.3 vs. 0.2), PON1 192R allele frequency did not differ (p>0.05). There was a significant relationship between the PON1 M/L55 polymorphism and CAD (p=0.017), whereas the R/Q192 polymorphism was not associated with CAD (p=0.445).
Conclusion: These data suggest that the PON1 M/L55 polymorphism shows a significant relationship with CAD and the Q/R192 polymorphism is not a major risk factor causing susceptibility to CAD in our population.