In an effort to identify genetic factors contributing to atherogenesis, we have studied inbred strains of mice that are susceptible (C57BL/6J) and resistant (C3H/HeJ) to diet-induced aortic fatty streak lesions. When maintained on a low-fat diet, HDL isolated from both strain C57BL/6J (B6) and C3H/HeJ (C3H) mice protect against LDL oxidation in a coculture model of the artery wall. However, whe...

Equilibrium dialysis and Scatchard plots were used to establish that human and rabbit paraoxonases both have two calcium binding sites. Independent-site and stepwise constant analyses were used to calculate a higher affinity site (Kd1) of 3.6 +/- 0.9 x 10(-7) M for human A paraoxonase, and 1.4 +/- 0.5 x 10(-8) M for rabbit paraoxonase, and a lower affinity site (Kd2) of 6.6 +/- 1.2 x 10(-6) M f...

conclusions the present study has demonstrated that a combination of exercise and silymarin can improve body composition and adiponectin levels. background silymarin has powerful antioxidant properties, but its effects on athletic performance are poorly understood. objectives the present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of 4 weeks of endurance or strength exercise, with or without s...

candidate genetic risk factor for vascular disease. A common mutation in methylenetetrahydrafolate reductase. Nat Genet 1995;10:111–3. 9. Virgos C, Joven J, Simo JM, Vilella E, Camps J, Arcelus R, et al. Homocyst(e)ine and the C677T mutation of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase in survivors of premature myocardial infarction. Clin Biochem 2000;33:509– 12. 10. Hixson JE, Vernier DT. Restrictio...

BACKGROUND Toxicity of organophosphate insecticides is mainly due to the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). However, organophosphate insecticides in acute, as well as in chronic and subchronic intoxication may lead to oxidative stress causing the enhancement of lipid peroxidation and changing the activities of antioxidative enzymes. Paraoxonase PON1 is synthesized by the liver. This enz...

Although largely deemed as structurally conserved, catalytic metal ion sites can rearrange, thereby contributing to enzyme evolvability. Here, we show that in paraoxonase-1, a lipo-lactonase, catalytic promiscuity and divergence into an organophosphate hydrolase are correlated with an alternative mode of the catalytic Ca(2+). We describe the crystal structures of active-site mutants bearing mut...

INTRODUCTION Dialysis-induced oxidative stress is one of the mechanisms of atherosclerotic changes. Heparin, used in hemodialysis, is an anticoagulant drug with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. This study was planned in order to evaluate the antioxidant effects of heparin and dalteparin (low-molecular weight heparin). MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-two patients underwent 3 hemodialysi...

Background: Dyslipidaemia is a well known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Lipid metabolism is affected by a range of genes and proteins. This study investigated whether some of these genes are associated with measures of subclinical CVD. Methods: Polymorphisms of paraoxonase 1 and 2, cholesteryl ester transfer protein, hepatic lipase, and lipoprotein lipase were tested for associa...

The complete amino acid sequence of human serum paraoxonase/arylesterase and the DNA sequence coding for that protein have recently been determined in two independent laboratories. There is now considerable evidence that the esterase exists in two genetically determined allozymic forms, and these A and B allozymes possess both paraoxonase and arylesterase activities. The B-type esterase has rel...