Lipid peroxidation

Lipid peroxidation is another mechanism through which cardiovascular disease is thought to develop. Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) is an enzyme that preserves HDL and LDL cholesterol from peroxidation, and hence may possibly be protective against atherosclerosis.

Studies have produced conflicting results regarding the relationship between variations in the gene that expresses paraoxonase and the risk of cardiovascular disease, despite evidence from mouse models that the presence or absence of the gene in mice is associated with the risk of atherosclerosis. In a case-control study of patients with lipodystrophy, metabolic disorders, a positive cardiovascular risk or atherosclerosis compared to HIV-positive patients without any of these conditions, the H7 haplotype of PON1 was associated with greater increases in CD4 cell count, higher levels of HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1, lower triglyceride levels and lower rates of subclinical arteriosclerosis.1

References

  1. Parra S et al. Paraoxanase-1 gene haplotypes are associated with metabolic disturbances, atherosclerosis and immunologic outcome in HIV-infected patients. J Infect Dis 201: 627-634, 2010
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