Paraoxonase-1 and Symptomatic Status in Carotid Artery Disease

The Role of Polyphenols in Modulating PON1 Activity Regarding Endothelial Dysfunction and Atherosclerosis

The incidence and prevalence of cardiovascular diseases are still rising. The principal mechanism that drives them is atherosclerosis, an affection given by dyslipidemia and a pro-inflammatory state. Paraoxonase enzymes have a protective role due to their ability to contribute to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways, especially paraoxonase 1 (PON1). PON1 binds with HDL (high-density lipoprotein), and high serum levels lead to a protective state against dyslipidemia, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, stroke, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and many others. Modulating PON1 expression might be a treatment objective with significant results in limiting the prevalence of atherosclerosis. Lifestyle including diet and exercise can raise its levels, and some beneficial plants have been found to influence PON1 levels; therefore, more studies on herbal components are needed. Our purpose is to highlight the principal roles of Praoxonase 1, its implications in dyslipidemia, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and other diseases, and to emphasize plants that can modulate PON1 expression, targeting the potential of some flavonoids that could be introduced as supplements in our diet and to validate the hypothesis that flavonoids have any effects regarding PON1 function.

High-density lipoprotein dysfunction in carotid artery stenosis

Background: High density lipoprotein (HDL) is well established to have an athero-protective role under normal conditions; however, pro-inflammatory alteration of HDL proteins may transform the HDL particle into a dysfunctional molecule. Our aim was to investigate HDL dysfunction by measuring enzyme-based markers in carotid artery stenosis (CAS). Patients and methods: All participants underwent duplex ultrasound and 52 subjects diagnosed with CAS and 51 subjects who had no significant stenosis (as controls) were enrolled in this study. Serum lipid profiles and serum parameters associated with dysfunctional HDL including myeloperoxidase (MPO), paraoxonase 1 (PON1), arylesterase (ARE) activity, and lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH) levels were measured. Results: It was found that the patients with CAS had increased levels of MPO and LOOH while PON1 activity was decreased. There was no significant difference between the CAS and non-CAS groups in terms of HDL levels. MPO/PON1, MPO/ARE, and LOOH/PON1 ratios were significantly increased in the CAS group. MPO/PON1 and MPO/ARE ratios both demonstrated significant correlations with degree of stenosis (%). Conclusions: The MPO/PON1 and MPO/ARE ratios may be potential serum markers that can enable the monitoring of HDL functionality and the assessment of atherosclerotic disease risks. Additionally, monitoring the oxidative balance of lipids on HDL molecules by LOOH/PON1 ratio may have value in the early detection of pro-atherosclerotic transformation of the HDL particle.

Current Biomarkers for Carotid Artery Stenosis: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature

Carotid artery stenosis (CAS), an atherosclerotic disease of the carotid artery, is one of the leading causes of transient ischemic attacks (TIA) and cerebrovascular attacks (CVA). The atherogenic process of CAS affects a wide range of physiological processes, such as inflammation, endothelial cell function, smooth muscle cell migration and many more. The current gold-standard test for CAS is Doppler ultrasound; however, there is yet to be determined a strong, clinically validated biomarker in the blood that can diagnose patients with CAS and/or predict adverse outcomes in such patients. In this comprehensive literature review, we evaluated all of the current research on plasma and serum proteins that are current contenders for biomarkers for CAS. In this literature review, 36 proteins found as potential biomarkers for CAS were categorized in to the following nine categories based on protein function: (1) Inflammation and Immunity, (2) Lipid Metabolism, (3) Haemostasis, (4) Cardiovascular Markers, (5) Markers of Kidney Function, (6) Bone Health, (7) Cellular Structure, (8) Growth Factors, and (9) Hormones. This literature review is the most up-to-date and current comprehensive review of research on biomarkers of CAS, and the only review that demonstrated the several pathways that contribute to the initiation and progression of the disease. With this review, future studies can determine if any new markers, or a panel of the proteins explored in this study, may be contenders as diagnostic or prognostic markers for CAS.

Association of PON-1 polymorphism with susceptibility to and severity of ischemic stroke in the Chinese population

Aim: The authors aimed to investigate whether polymorphisms of PON-1 were associated with the susceptibility to and severity of ischemic stroke (IS). Methods: In this study, 302 IS patients and 303 healthy controls were enrolled. Polymorphisms rs854560 and rs854572 of PON-1 were detected using SNaPshot single-nucleotide polymorphism typing technology. Results: The rs854572 polymorphism of the PON-1 gene showed a significant correlation with IS, and its GG genotype reduced the risk of IS (recessive model, p = 0.001). The GG genotype was also associated with mild stroke (p = 0.032). No association was observed between rs854560 and IS. Conclusion: PON-1 rs854572 polymorphism was related to the risk of IS and could be a biomarker to access the severity of IS.

Fibroblast Growth Factor 19 Levels Predict Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Men With Type 2 Diabetes

Objective: Fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) plays an indispensable role in regulating bile acid, glucose, and lipid metabolism, and alterations of its circulating concentration is associated with the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Atherosclerosis is directly related to the death-deriving diabetic macroangiopathy in T2D, yet relationships between FGF19 and atherosclerosis in T2D remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of circulating FGF19 levels with the development of subclinical atherosclerosis (subAS) in patients with T2D in a 3-year prospective study. Methods: In the present study, 153 newly diagnosed T2D patients without subAS were recruited at baseline, and 137 of them completed a 3-year follow-up. FGF19 levels were measured in fasting serum samples collected at baseline and the third-year visits. Carotid, femoral, and iliac intima-media thickness (IMT) were detected by high-resolution B-mode ultrasound to determine the presence of subAS. Logistic regression analysis was applied to assess the relationship between serum FGF19 and subAS in patients with T2D. Results: At baseline, serum FGF19 levels were positively correlated with carotid IMT and iliac IMT in men (r = 0.239, P = 0.036; r = 0.309, P = 0.006). At the 3-year follow-up, 25 out of 153 patients developed subAS, and FGF19 levels in men were higher in the subAS group than in the non-subAS group [202.7 (177.9-373.6) vs. 133.4 (85.6-171.3) pg/ml, P = 0.028]. Furthermore, in men, higher baseline levels of FGF19 were independently associated with a greater risk of subAS at year 3 in patients with T2D with an odds ratio (OR) of 4.798 per 1 standard deviation (SD) of the FGF19 concentration [OR = 4.798 (95% CI, 1.680-13.706), P = 0.003]. Baseline FGF19 levels yielded an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.769 to predict the development of subAS at year 3 in men with T2D. Conclusions: Serum FGF19 levels could help in predicting the development of atherosclerosis in men with T2D.