title: A new functional CYP3A4 intron 6 polymorphism significantly affects tacrolimus pharmacokinetics in kidney transplant recipients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tacrolimus (Tac) is a potent immunosuppressant with considerable toxicity. Tac pharmacokinetics varies between individuals and thus complicates its use in preventing rejection after kidney transplantation. This variability might be caused by genetic polymorphisms in metabolizing enzymes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used TaqMan analyses to evaluate the impact of a newly discovered CYP3A4 (cytochrome P450, family 3, subfamily A, polypeptide 4) single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs35599367C>T; CYP3A4*22) on Tac pharmacokinetics in 185 renal transplant recipients who participated in an international randomized controlled clinical trial (fixed-dose, concentration-controlled study).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall mean daily-dose requirement to reach the same predose Tac blood concentration was 33% lower for carriers of the T variant allele than for rs35599367CC patients (95% CI, -46% to -20%; P = 0.018). When combined with the *3 genotype of the CYP3A5 (cytochrome P450, family 3, subfamily A, polypeptide 5) gene, the rs35599367C>T SNP was also associated with a risk of supratherapeutic Tac concentrations (>15 μg/L) during the first 3 days after surgery, with an odds ratio of 8.7 for carriers of the CYP3A4 T allele plus CYP3A5*3/*3 (P = 0.027) and 4.2 for the CYP3A4 CC homozygotes plus CYP3A5*3/*3 (P = 0.002), compared with CYP3A4 CC homozygotes having 1 or 2 CYP3A5*1 alleles. The overall increase in the Tac dose-adjusted trough blood concentration was +179% for carriers of the CYP3A4 T allele with CYP3A5*3/*3 (P < 0.001), +101% for CYP3A4 CC homozygotes with CYP3A5*3/*3 (P < 0.001), and +64% for CYP3A4 T allele carriers with CYP3A5*1 (P = 0.020),compared with CYP3A4 CC homozygotes with CYP3A5*1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CYP3A4 rs35599367C>T polymorphism is associated with a significantly altered Tac metabolism and therefore increases the risk of supratherapeutic Tac concentrations early after transplantation. Analysis of this CYP3A4*22 SNP may help in identifying patients at risk of Tac overexposure.
authors: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: Laure
authors: L
authors: Elens
authors: Rachida
authors: R
authors: Bouamar
authors: Dennis A
authors: DA
authors: Hesselink
authors: Vincent
authors: V
authors: Haufroid
authors: Ilse P
authors: IP
authors: van der Heiden
authors: Teun
authors: T
authors: van Gelder
authors: Ron H N
authors: RH
authors: van Schaik
mesh_terms: D018435:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B; D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000235:genetics; D051544:Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A / Q000235:genetics*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D007438:Introns; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: C513055:ABCB1 protein, human; D018435:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B; D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C510164:CYP3A5 protein, human; D051544:Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A; C510163:CYP3A4 protein, human; D016559:Tacrolimus