title: Paraoxonase gene polymorphisms and plasma oxidized low-density lipoprotein level as possible risk factors for exudative age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Paraoxonase (E.C.3.1.1.2) is a polymorphic protein shown to prevent low-density lipoprotein oxidation. Our purpose is to evaluate the hypothesis that paraoxonase gene polymorphisms and plasma oxidized low-density lipoprotein level play a role in the occurrence of exudative age-related macular degeneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed paraoxonase genotypes (A/B, Gln-Arg192 and L/M, Leu-Met54) and plasma oxidized low-density lipoprotein levels in 72 unrelated Japanese patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration and compared the results with those of 140 age-matched and sex-matched control subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distribution of paraoxonase 192 and paraoxonase 54 polymorphisms was significantly different between the patients with age-related macular degeneration and control subjects (chi-square = 6.226, P =.0445, and chi-square = 6.863, P =.0323, respectively). The high frequency of the BB genotype at position 192 was observed in the exudative age-related macular degeneration group compared with control subjects (52.8% vs 35.0%, respectively; P =.0127). The high frequency of the LL genotype at position 54 was observed in the patients more than the controls (91.7% vs 77.1%, respectively; P =.0090). The mean (+/- SE) oxidized low-density lipoprotein levels in the patients was significantly higher than in the controls (19.1 +/- 1.0 vs 16.2 +/- 0.6 U/ml, P <.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that the paraoxonase gene polymorphisms may represent a possible genetic risk factor for age-related macular degeneration and that increased plasma oxidized low-density lipoprotein may be involved in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan. tikeda@ophth.kpu-m.ac.jp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Obayashi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Imamura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koizumi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D043303:Aryldialkylphosphatase; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004950:Esterases / Q000235:genetics*; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D004247:DNA; D004950:Esterases; D043303:Aryldialkylphosphatase