Effect of non-genetic factors on paraoxonase 1 activity in patients undergoing hemodialysis

ObjectivesHemodialyzed patients have lower paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity. Higher mortality risk from cardiovascular disease observed in these patients could be due to the low antiathetrogenic activity of PON1. Understanding the mechanism that causes lower PON1 activity could provide the possibility for modulation of enzyme activity in purpose of preventing and/or decreasing development of atherosclerosis.Design and methods87 healthy individuals and 71 hemodialyzed patients were enrolled in this study.ResultsHemodialyzed patients had reduced PON1 paraoxonase and arylesterase activity, concentrations of HDL, HDL3 and HDL2 and concentrations of free thiol groups. Distribution of HDL subfractions and distribution of PON1 phenotypes as well as concentrations of MDA were not different between two study groups. In the in vitro experiment high concentrations of urea, creatinine, uric acid and addition of patient's sera ultrafiltrate did not significantly affect PON1 paraoxonase activity.ConclusionDecreased HDL concentration as well as lower PON1 concentration (shown indirectly by the enzyme arylesterase activity) might contribute, at least partly, to the reduced PON1 activity observed in hemodialyzed patients. Decreased concentration of free thiol groups in sera suggest that free thiol group (Cys284) in PON1 might also be oxidized, which can affect PON1 activity.