CYP3A5 Genotype as a Potential Pharmacodynamic Biomarker for Tacrolimus Therapy in Ulcerative Colitis in Japanese Patients

Tacrolimus has been used to induce remission in patients with steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis. It poses a problem of large individual differences in dosage necessary to attain target blood concentration and, often, this leads to drug inefficacy. We examined the difference in mRNA expression levels of ATP binding cassette transporter B1 (ABCB1) between inflamed and non-inflamed tissues, and the influence of genotype on tacrolimus therapy. The mRNA expression of CYP3A4 in colonic mucosa and that of cytochrome p450 3A5 (CYP3A5) and ABCB1 in inflamed and non-inflamed areas were examined in 14 subjects. The mRNA expression levels of CYP3A5 were higher than that of CYP3A4. The mRNA expression of ABCB1 was lower in the inflamed than in the non-inflamed mucosa, despite that of CYP3A5 mRNA level being not significantly changed. Hence, the deterioration of the disease is related to the reduction of the barrier in the inflamed mucosa. The relationship between genotype and blood concentration, dose, and concentration/dose (C/D) ratio of tacrolimus in 15 subjects was studied. The tacrolimus dose to maintain equivalent blood concentrations was lower in than in carriers, and the C/D ratio was significantly higher in the latter. Thus, polymorphism information played a role in determining the initial dose of tacrolimus. Furthermore, since the effect of tacrolimus appears earlier in than in and , it seems necessary to change the evaluation time of therapeutic effect by genotype. Additionally, the relationship between genotype and C/D ratio of tacrolimus in colonic mucosa was investigated in 10 subjects. Tacrolimus concentration in the mucosa was two-fold higher in than in carriers, although no significant difference in tacrolimus-blood levels was observed. Therefore, the local concentration of tacrolimus affected by polymorphism might be related to its therapeutic effect.