Distribution profile of paraoxonase phenotypes among the Gujaratis

BACKGROUND: Paraoxonase (PON1) can hydrolyze organophosphate pesticides (OP) and has a key role in the susceptibility of human in OP toxicity. The human-enzyme shows polymorphism and variations in the distribution profile of its phenotypes among different ethnic groups have been observed. AIMS: To see the distribution pattern of total PON1 activity in 45 healthy attendants of poisoning cases; 121 healthy unrelated farm-labours and 59 normal subjects of trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The PON1 activities from serum/plasma samples of these healthy normal individuals were estimated with/without addition of 1M NaCl in order to determine salt-stimulated and basal activity. The PON 1 phenotypes were determined on the basis of percent activation of enzyme activity. RESULTS: Tri-modal distribution of basal PON1 activity was observed among all these individuals. 52.0% of the individuals belonged to Phenotype A, 46.6% to phenotype AB while 1.4% to Phenotype B with gene frequency of allele-A and allele-B being 0.753 and 0.247 respectively in excellent agreement with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. CONCLUSION: Maximum number of individuals belonged to phenotype-A (low PON1 activity) showing potential vulnerability towards Op-poisoning.