Anti-inflammatory properties of paraoxonase-1 in atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is increasingly recognised as an inflammatory disease. The inflammatory process begins with the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the artery wall. The ability of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) to inhibit the oxidation of LDL (and cell membranes) and promote macrophage cholesterol efflux through the action of several of its associated proteins, particularly paraoxonase-1 (PON1), reduces the inflammation associated with atherosclerosis.