The role of paraoxonases in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and infectious diseases and cancer

The paraoxonase (PON) gene family contains three members: PON1, PON2, and PON3. All the three members of the family possess antioxidant properties and lipo-lactonase activity, and play a role in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory diseases, including atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, diabetes mellitus, and cancer. Recent studies have demonstrated that the intracellular paraoxonases PON2 and PON3 associated with mitochondria and mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes regulate mitochondrial superoxide production and prevent apoptosis. As oxidative stress is a result of mitochondrial dysfunction and is involved in the development of inflammatory diseases, including atherosclerosis and cancer, the studies of the enzymes PON2 and PON3 can initiate many epidemiological surveys conducted to search for a relationship between the paraoxonase genes and the development of many inflammatory diseases. Understanding these mechanisms will be able to introduce new treatments for oxidative stress-related diseases. © Bionika Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.