Mcb. Garin et al., QUANTIFICATION OF HUMAN SERUM PARAOXONASE BY ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOASSAY - POPULATION DIFFERENCES IN PROTEIN CONCENTRATIONS, Biochemical journal, 304, 1994, pp. 549-554
Paraoxonase is a serum protein bound to high-density lipoproteins (HDL
s). The physiological function of the enzyme is unknown, but a role in
lipid metabolism has been postulated. To date, studies of the protein
have had to rely on measurements of enzyme activity with various subs
trates. We have developed a highly specific, competitive e.l.i.s.a. us
ing a previously characterized monoclonal antibody. The assay can dete
ct 20 ng of paraoxonase with a working range of 75-600 ng. Intra- and
interassay coefficients of variation were 6.5 and 7.9% respectively. S
erum concentrations of paraoxonase in healthy subjects from Geneva and
Manchester ranged from 25 to 118 mu g/ml. There were significant diff
erences in mean concentrations between the two groups (Geneva, 79.3+/-
18.7 mu g/ml; Manchester, 59.9+/-24.1 mu g/ml: P < 0.001), differences
also apparent when subjects were compared according to paraoxonase ph
enotype. These appeared to be largely a consequence of differences in
apolipoprotein A-I concentrations between the two populations, suggest
ing that HDL particle number may be important in determining serum lev
els of paraoxonase. Paraoxonase specific activities were also signific
antly different between the two groups of subjects (Geneva, 2.08+/-0.9
6 units/mg; Manchester, 3.08+/-1.73 units/mg: P < 0.001), which may re
flect differences in HDL particle composition. The e.l.i.s.a. should f
urnish the necessary complement to studies of paraoxonase enzymic acti
vity and has already provided evidence for differences with respect to
serum levels of the protein both between populations and between phen
otypes within populations.