Influence of ABCB1 Gene Polymorphisms and P-Glycoprotein Activity on Cyclosporine Pharmacokinetics in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Healthy Volunteers

Title: Influence of ABCB1 Gene Polymorphisms and P-Glycoprotein Activity on Cyclosporine Pharmacokinetics in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Healthy Volunteers

Volume: 2 Issue: 2

Author(s): Nicolas Ansermot, Michela Rebsamen, Jocelyne Chabert, Marc Fathi, Marianne Gex-Fabry, Youssef Daali, Marie Besson, Michel Rossier, Serge Rudaz, Denis Hochstrasser, Pierre Dayer and Jules Desmeules

Affiliation:

Keywords: Cyclosporine, PBMCs, ABCB1, P-Glycoprotein, pharmacokinetics, TDM, pharmacogenetics

Abstract: The calcineurin inhibitor cyclosporine is removed from lymphocytes by the drug efflux transporter Pglycoprotein (P-gp) encoded by the ABCB1 gene for which several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified. Of a total of 87 healthy volunteers genotyped for ABCB1 G2677T/A and C3435T SNPs, 10 GG-CC and 9 TTTT individuals were selected and received a single oral dose of cyclosporine. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) ABCB1 mRNA expression, P-gp activity in CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ cells and the 24h cyclosporine pharmacokinetics in PBMCs and whole blood were determined. No correlation was observed between cyclosporine PBMC and whole blood levels (AUC_0-24, Spearman, r_S=0.09, p=0.71). Intraindividual PBMC and whole blood levels followed parallel profiles that did not significantly differ with respect to t_max (Wilcoxon, p=0.53) and t_1/2 (p=0.49). Significant negative correlations between cyclosporine t_1/2 in PBMCs and P-gp activity in CD4⁺ (r_S=-0.82, p=0.007) and CD8⁺ (r_S=-0.72, p=0.03) were observed among TT-TT subjects. Similarly, a negative correlation was detected in the GG-CC group between P-gp activity in CD4⁺ and cyclosporine PBMC AUC_0-24 (r_S=-0.69, p=0.03), as well as PBMC to whole blood AUC_0-24 ratio (r_S=-0.60, p=0.07). Tested ABCB1 genotypes had no influence on cyclosporine pharmacokinetic parameters in PBMCs and whole blood. The haplotypes investigated were neither significantly correlated with PBMC ABCB1 mRNA expression nor with P-gp activity in CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ . In conclusion, cyclosporine PBMC pharmacokinetics was influenced by P-gp activity and cyclosporine whole blood concentrations did not predict PBMC drug levels, suggesting that despite values in the therapeutic range, some subjects could have inadequate intracellular drug levels.

Cite this article as:

Ansermot Nicolas, Rebsamen Michela, Chabert Jocelyne, Fathi Marc, Gex-Fabry Marianne, Daali Youssef, Besson Marie, Rossier Michel, Rudaz Serge, Hochstrasser Denis, Dayer Pierre and Desmeules Jules, Influence of ABCB1 Gene Polymorphisms and P-Glycoprotein Activity on Cyclosporine Pharmacokinetics in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Healthy Volunteers, Drug Metabolism Letters 2008; 2 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187231208784040951