PON1 activity and total oxidant status in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to the investigate effect of tuberculosis infection on paraoxonase-1 (PON1) activity and oxidative status in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB).

Design And Methods: Twenty-five active PTB subjects and 33 healthy controls were included in the study. Serum PON1 activity, total oxidant status (TOS), lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH) and total free sulfydryl (-SH) groups were determined.

Results: Serum basal/salt-stimulated paraoxonase activities, arylesterase activity and total -SH group levels were significantly lower in patients with PTB than controls (p<0.05, p<0.05, p<0.001 and p<0.01 respectively), while TOS and LOOH levels were significantly higher (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively). In PTB patients, TOS, LOOH and total -SH group levels were significantly correlated with paraoxonase (r=-0.371, p<0.05; r=-0.286, p<0.05; r=0.625 p<0.01; respectively) and arylesterase (r=-0.437, p<0.01; r=-0.352, p<0.05; r=0.653, p<0.01; respectively).

Conclusions: Patients with active PTB are exposed to potent oxidative stress and they have decreased PON1 activity. These predisposal factors may, in part, play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in PTB.