title: Plasma paroxonase activity in old age.
abstract: Genetic factors are known to be of importance in determining the rate of biotransformation of foreign compounds in the liver. Adverse reactions to drugs are increased and pharmacokinetic parameters altered with age. In the present study, the effect of age on plasma paroxonase activity is studied. Paroxonase is a hepatically synthesized enzyme whose activity is almost entirely determined by genetic factors. It therefore serves as a model to determine whether changes in the frequency or expression of genes could explain the altered responses to drugs observed with age. The frequency distribution for paroxonase activity for 186 elderly people is closely similar to that obtained from 190 blood transfusion volunteers and 189 family members. Paroxonase activity, as with all other previously investigated pharmacogenetic polymorphisms, is unchanged with age. The hypothesis is put forward that genetic determinants of drug metabolism remain unchanged with age.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001711:Biotransformation; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000097:blood*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D010261:Paraoxon; D010597:Pharmacogenetics; D010641:Phenotype
chemical_list: D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; D010261:Paraoxon