Human paraoxonase 2

Human paraoxonase 2 (PON2), which is a member of the paraoxonase family, possesses unique properties that distinguish it from PON1 and PON3. PON2 is ubiquitously expressed in many different tissue types and is highly expressed in the vital organs, such as the heart and lungs. Early research revealed that PON2 is exclusively intracellularly found, wherein it functions as an anti-oxidative protein by reducing intracellular and local oxidative stress. Studies in the last five years have demonstrated that PON2 protects against atherosclerosis by preventing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation, reversing the oxidation of mildly oxidised LDL, inhibiting monocyte chemotaxis, and increasing cholesterol efflux. Recently, emerging evidence has proposed that PON2 is an anti-atherosclerotic and may be associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The number of investigations concerning the relationship between two common PON2 polymorphisms and CVD among different ethnic groups and regions is rapidly growing. Here, we briefly review the developments in PON2 research by focusing on past and recent findings.