Leptin decreases plasma paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity and induces oxidative stress: the possible novel mechanism for proatherogenic effect of chronic hyperleptinemia.

Obesity is an important risk factor of atherosclerosis; however, the mechanism of proatherogenic effect of obesity is not definitely established. Recent studies suggest an important role of leptin in obesity associated complications. We investigated the effect of chronic hyperleptinemia on two antioxidant enzymes contained in plasma lipoproteins: paraoxonase 1 (PON1) and platelet activating factor-acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH). The study was performed on three groups of male Wistar rats: (1) control, fed ad libitum, (2) leptin treated, receiving leptin (0.25 mg/kg twice daily s.c. for 7 days), (3) pair-fed, in which food intake was identical as in leptin-treated animals. PON1 activity toward paraoxon, phenyl acetate, gamma-decanolactone and homogentisic acid lactone was lower in leptin-treated than in control group by 30.4, 30.8, 34.5 and 62%, respectively. Leptin increased plasma concentration and urinary excretion of isoprostanes by 46.4 and 49.2%, respectively. Leptin treatment had no effect on plasma lipid profile and glucose level. Plasma leptin was 208.8% higher in leptin-treated and 51.5% lower in pair-fed than in control group. These data indicate that hyperleptinemia induced by exogenous leptin administration markedly decreases plasma PON1 activity and induces oxidative stress. These mechanisms may be involved in atherogenesis in hyperleptinemic obese individuals.