Investigation of paraoxonase 1 activity of the workers at the plant, who have long-term contact with organophosphorus compounds

Background . Liver enzyme paraoxonase 1 (PON1) plays an important role in protection the organism from toxic effects of organophosphorus compounds (OPs) via their hydrolysis whose rate and efficiency depend on PON1 serum level activity. PON1 activity is largely determined by the polymorphic variants of the PON1 gene. Effect of long-term work with exposure to the toxic OPs on the PON1 activity is almost unknown. The aim of the present work was to study the effect of long-term work with exposure to the toxic OPs on PON1 serum enzymatic activity depending on polymorphisms Q191R, L54M, C(-108)T PON1 gene. Materials and methods . PON1 serum enzymatic activity and PON1 polymorphisms were determined in men, who were categorized in 2 groups: workers of companies providing storage and disposal of the OPs (68) and control group (37). The PON1 191, PON1 55 and PON1 108 polymorphisms were studied by polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism. PON1 serum enzymatic activity was measured by a spectrophotometric method using paraoxon. Results . PON1 activity in workers with exposure to the toxic OPs relative was increased compared to the control group (p = 0,027). Differences in serum PON1 activity was shown for the carriers of certain genotypes of the PON1 gene: PON1 serum activity was higher in workers compared to controls only for LL genotype (L54M polymorphism) and C allele (C(-108)T polymorphism) carriers (p < 0,001 and p = 0,002, correspondently). Conclusion . We suggest that the increase in serum PON1 activity in workers providing storage and disposal of OPs could be modulated with the polymorphic variants of the PON1 gene.