Impact of CYP3A5 genetic polymorphism on cross-reactivity in tacrolimus chemiluminescent immunoassay in kidney transplant recipients

Background: Tacrolimus immunoassays possess cross-reactivity with metabolites in the blood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cross-reactivity in tacrolimus chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) in kidney transplant recipients and to characterize the cross-reactivity according to CYP3A5 genetic polymorphism. Methods: The subjects were 50 kidney transplant recipients receiving low-dose tacrolimus. Blood levels of tacrolimus at 12 h (C-12) measured by CLIA were compared with that by LC-MS/MS using Bland-Altman analysis. The influence of CYP3A5 genotypes on the cross-reactivity in tacrolimus CLIA was evaluated by interaction plots. Results: No significant difference was observed in tacrolimus C-12 between the CYP3A5*1/*3 and CYP3A5*3/*3 genotypes. The dose-normalized C-12 of tacrolimus was significantly higher in the CYP3A5*3/*3 genotype than in the CYP3A5*1/*3 genotype. The C-12 ratio of 13-O-demethylate to tacrolimus was significantly lower in the CYP3A5*3/*3 genotype than in the CYP3A5*1/*3 genotype. Tacrolimus C-12 measured by CLIA was 35% higher than that by LC-MS/MS. A higher cross-reactivity was observed in the patients with a tacrolimus C-12 of less than 3 mu g/l and CYP3A5*1/*3 genotype. Conclusion: This study confirmed the cross-reactivity in CLIA in kidney transplant recipients receiving low-dose tacrolimus. High metabolic capacity associated with the CYP3A5*1 genotype affected the cross-reactivity in patients with low tacrolimus levels. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.