Paraoxonase 1 activity and polymorphisms in multiple sclerosis patients

The pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) includes also the vascular abnormalities. Recent reports on changes in venous cerebrospinal outflow and the investigation of immunomodulatory properties of several vascular mediators on the molecular level have added new information to hypotheses on vascular pathology as determining factor in the pathophysiology of MS. We assessed changes in serum paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activities in MS patients and polymorphism of PON1 as a risk factor for MS. The main role of serum PON1 is hydrolysis of lipid peroxides and protection of low-density lipoprotein particles from oxidation. These events could play a role in lowering the risk of atherogenesis and vascular complications development in MS. There are controversial results about association of two main polymorphisms in paraoxonase coding region (PON1 55L/M, PON1 192Q/R) and risk of MS in different populations. Our results support studies that PON1 polymorphisms are probably not a risk factor of MS development.