Changes in serum PON1 activity, gene expression and their association with lipid profile parameters in healthy Darehshori neonatal foals: a preliminary study

Authors: ROUZBEH RAZAVI DEHKORDI1, GHOLAM ALI KOJOURI, BEHNAZ KARIMI, ALI MOHAMMAD AHADI

Abstract: Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) contributes to the antioxidant mechanisms that prevent lipoprotein oxidation and act as a negative acute-phase protein. This study aimed to evaluate changes in serum PON1 activity, the leukocyte PON1 gene expression, as well as lipid profile tests (LDL, HDL, triglyceride, and cholesterol) in 16 healthy Darehshori newborn foals up to 60 days of life. Blood samples were collected at 1, 7, 15, 30, and 60 days used for detecting biochemical parameters, PON1 activity, and, and its gene expression, using realtime RT-PCR. Low levels of PON1 activity were observed at birth, which increased significantly with increasing age at days 7, 15, 30, and 60. In addition, HDL levels were significantly increased at 15, 30, and 60 days in male foals, and in contrast, LDL and cholesterol levels were significantly reduced on days 15, 30, and 60 compared to the first day of life in newborn foals. For the first time, PON1 mRNA was detected in foal leukocytes and its gene expression showed a significant decrease compared to the birthday. The positive correlations between PON1 expression/HDL, LDL, and cholesterol in the first week of life and between PON1 enzyme activity/ HDL, LDL, and cholesterol in different samples and sexes may indicate an adaptive increase in antioxidant defenses in response to oxidative stress. The authors suggest that PON1 expression in leukocytes may be related to the enzyme?s ability to reduce intracellular oxidant levels.

Keywords: Horse, neonatal foals, paraoxonase, lipid profile, gene expression

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