Jean-Baptiste Woillard

The Role of Organic Anion–Transporting Polypeptides and Their Common Genetic Variants in Mycophenolic Acid Pharmacokinetics

The goal of this study was to determine the roles of the organic anion–transporting polypeptides (OATPs) OATP1A2, OATP1B1, and OATP1B3 and their genetic variants in the pharmacokinetics of the immunosuppressive drug mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). Using OATP‐transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells, we measured the uptake of mycophenolic acid (MPA) and its glucuronide (MPAG). MPAG, but not MPA, significantly accumulated in cells expressing OATP1B3 or OATP1B1 (P < 0.05). The pharmacokinetics of both MPA and MPAG were significantly influenced by the OATP1B3 polymorphism 334T>G/699G>A in 70 renal transplant patients receiving combination treatment of MMF with either tacrolimus or sirolimus, but not in 115 patients receiving MMF and cyclosporine. The decrease in dose‐normalized (dn) MPA exposure and the concomitant increase in the MPAG/MPA metabolic ratio are consistent with reduced enterohepatic cycling in patients carrying the OATP1B3 334G–699A haplotype. Further studies demonstrated that this variant of OATP1B3 exhibited a reduced maximal velocity (Vmax) in transfected HEK cells, thereby providing functional evidence to support our clinical findings.

Population pharmacokinetic model and Bayesian estimator for two tacrolimus formulations – twice daily Prograf® and once daily Advagraf®

AIM To investigate the differences in the pharmacokinetics of Prograf and the prolonged release formulation Advagraf and to develop a Bayesian estimator to estimate tacrolimus inter-dose area under the curve (AUC) in renal transplant patients receiving either Prograf or Advagraf. METHODS Tacrolimus concentration-time profiles were collected, in adult renal transplant recipients, at weeks 1 and 2, and at months 1, 3 and 6 post-transplantation from 32 Prograf treated patients, and one profile was collected from 41 Advagraf patients more than 12 months post-transplantation. Population pharmacokinetic (popPK) parameters were estimated using nonmem. In a second step, the popPK model was used to develop a single Bayesian estimator for the two tacrolimus formulations. RESULTS A two-compartment model with Erlang absorption (n= 3) and first-order elimination best described the data. In Advagraf patients, a bimodal distribution was observed for the absorption rate constant (K(tr) ): one group with a K(tr) similar to that of Prograf treated patients and the other group with a slower absorption. A mixture model for K(tr) was tested to describe this bimodal distribution. However, the data were best described by the nonmixture model including covariates (cytochrome P450 3A5, haematocrit and drug formulation). Using this model and tacrolimus concentrations measured at 0, 1 and 3h post-dose, the Bayesian estimator could estimate tacrolimus AUC accurately (bias = 0.1%) and with good precision (8.6%). CONCLUSIONS The single Bayesian estimator developed yields good predictive performance for estimation of individual tacrolimus inter-dose AUC in Prograf and Advagraf treated patients and is suitable for clinical practice.

Population Pharmacokinetics and Bayesian Estimation of Tacrolimus Exposure in Renal Transplant Recipients on a New Once-Daily Formulation

The population pharmacokinetic model was further refined by taking into account all of the data from the 41 patients, and the final model was validated using a bootstrap and a visual predictive check. For Bayesian estimation, the best limited-sampling strategy was determined on the basis of the D-optimality criterion and validation performed in the validation group.Background and ObjectivesAdvagraf® is a new extended-release once-daily formulation of tacrolimus, a potent immunosuppressant widely used in renal transplantation. The aims of this study were (i) to develop a population pharmacokinetic model for once-daily tacrolimus in adult renal transplant patients; and (ii) to develop a Bayesian estimator able to reliably estimate individual pharmacokinetic parameters and exposure indices.MethodsFull pharmacokinetic profiles obtained from 41 adult renal transplant patients who had been switched from ciclosporin to a single daily dose of the new once-daily tacrolimus formulation for more than 6 months were analysed. Tacrolimus concentrations were measured using validated turbulent flow chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry methods. Population parameters were computed using nonlinear mixed-effect modelling software (NONMEM® Version VI). The patients were randomly divided into (i) a model-building test group (n = 29); and (ii) a validation group (n= 12). Population pharmacokinetic analysis was performed to estimate the effects on tacrolimus pharmacokinetics of demographic characteristics (sex, bodyweight, age), drug interaction with prednisolone, laboratory test results (the haematocrit, haemaglobin level and serum creatinine level) and cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A5 (CYP3A5) genetic polymorphism.ResultsThe trapezoidal area under the whole-blood concentration time curve from 0 to 24 hours (AUC24) of tacrolimus varied by up to 50% for the same trough concentration value. The pharmacokinetics of once-daily tacrolimus were well described by a two-compartment model combined with an Erlang distribution to describe the absorption phase. The CYP3A5 genotype was the only covariate retained in the final model. The apparent clearance of tacrolimus was 2-fold higher in expressers (with the CYP3A5*1/*1 and CYP3A5*1/*3 genotypes) than in non-expressers (with the CYP3A5*3/*3 genotype). This factor explained around 25% of the interindividual variability in the apparent clearance. A posteriori Bayesian estimation allowed accurate prediction of the AUC24 of once-daily tacrolimus, using just three sampling times (0, 1 and 3 hours post-dose) with a nonsignificant mean bias of 0.7% (range 16–20%) and good precision (root mean square error 9%).ConclusionsPopulation pharmacokinetic analysis of once-daily tacrolimus in renal transplant recipients resulted in identification of the CYP3A5*1/*3 genotype as a significant covariate on the apparent clearance of tacrolimus, and the design of an accurate maximum a posteriori Bayesian estimator based on three blood concentration measurements and this covariate. Such a tool could be helpful for comparing different exposure indices or different target levels. It could contribute to improvement of the efficacy and tolerability of once-daily tacrolimus in some patients.

Risk of diarrhoea in a long-term cohort of renal transplant patients given mycophenolate mofetil: the significant role of the UGT1A8*2 variant allele

AIM In renal transplant patients given mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), we investigated the relationship between the digestive adverse events and polymorphisms in the UGT genes involved in mycophenolic acid (MPA) intestinal metabolism and biliary excretion of its phase II metabolites. METHODS Clinical data and DNA from 256 patients transplanted between 1996 and 2006 and given MMF with cyclosporin (CsA, n = 185), tacrolimus (TAC, n = 49) or sirolimus (SIR, n = 22), were retrospectively analysed. The relationships between diarrhoea and polymorphisms in UGT1A8 (2; 518C>G, 3; 830G>A), UGT1A7 (622C>T), UGT1A9 (-275T>A), UGT2B7 (-840G>A) and ABCC2 (-24C>T, 3972C>T) or the co-administered immunosuppressant were investigated using the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS Multivariate analysis showed that patients on TAC or SIR had a 2.8 higher risk of diarrhoea than patients on CsA (HR = 2.809; 95%CI (1.730, 4.545); P < 0.0001) and that non-carriers of the UGT1A8 2 allele (CC518 genotype) had a higher risk of diarrhoea than carriers (C518G and 518GG genotypes) (HR = 1.876; 95%CI (1.109, 3.175); P = 0.0192). When patients were divided according to the immunosuppressive co-treatment, a significant effect of UGT1A8 2 was found in those co-treated with CsA (HR = 2.414; 95%CI (1.089, 5.354); P = 0.0301) but not TAC or SIR (P = 0.4331). CONCLUSION These results suggest that a possible inhibition of biliary excretion of MPA metabolites by CsA and a decreased intestinal production of these metabolites in UGT1A8 2 carriers may be protective factors against MMF-induced diarrhoea.

Lessons from routine dose adjustment of tacrolimus in renal transplant patients based on global exposure.

Objectives: Since 2007, a number of transplantation centers have been routinely using an expert system for tacrolimus (TAC) dose adjustment in kidney allograft recipients, based on PK modeling and Bayesian estimation for area-under-the-curve (AUC) determination. This has allowed the setting up of a large database of TAC pharmacokinetic profiles and AUC values, a part of which was analyzed here. Methods: We retrospectively studied 2030 requests posted by 21 different centers for routine TAC dose adjustment in 1000 different adult renal transplant patients (not enrolled in any kind of concentration-controlled clinical trial). For each request, the following information was obtained: time elapsed since transplantation, TAC daily dose, calculated AUC, and trough concentration (C0). Results: The dose-standardized exposure to TAC significantly and progressively increased in the months after transplantation: from month (M) 1 to M9 C0/dose increased from 2.33 to 3.44 mcg·L−1·mg−1 and AUC/dose from 43.1 to 64.2 mcg·h−1·L−1·mg−1, respectively. On the contrary, in patients beyond the first year whose C0 or AUC was in the target range, the odds of remaining in this range were high for a long time period, suggesting a low intrapatient variability in the stable phase. Regression analyses showed that the correlation between C0 and AUC was better in the first 3-month period (r² = 0.76) than later on (r² ⩽ 0.67). Using the regression equations obtained, AUC ranges corresponding to different applicable C0 targets were calculated. Conclusions: From a large number of kidney graft recipients, we have estimated the relationships between C0 and AUC, modeled the evolution of TAC exposure with time and defined AUC targets that could be useful to lead further controlled-concentration trials and improve routine TAC therapeutic drug monitoring.

Impact of CYP2C19 genetic polymorphisms on voriconazole dosing and exposure in adult patients with invasive fungal infections

Voriconazole (VCZ) use is limited by its narrow therapeutic range and significant interpatient variability in exposure. This study aimed to assess (i) the impact of CYP2C19 genotype on VCZ exposure and (ii) the doses required to achieve the therapeutic range in adult patients with invasive fungal infections (IFIs). Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of VCZ, based on trough concentration measurement, and CYP2C19 genotyping were used to guide VCZ dosing in Caucasian patients with IFIs. The two common polymorphisms in Caucasians (CYP2C19*2 and *17), associated with decreased or increased CYP2C19 activity, respectively, were correlated with the daily VCZ dose, pharmacokinetic parameters and concentration-to-dose ratio. In total, 111 trough concentration measurements from 35 genotyped patients were analysed using linear mixed-effect models. The mean VCZ doses required to achieve target concentrations were significantly higher in CYP2C19*17 carriers compared with CYP2C19*1/*1 individuals (P<0.001): 2.57±0.25mg/kg twice daily in CYP2C19*1/*1 patients versus 3.94±0.39mg/kg and 6.75±0.54mg/kg in *1/*17 and *17/*17 patients, respectively. In addition, exposure to VCZ correlated with the CYP2C19*17 variant. Indices of exposure for CYP2C19*2 carriers were in line with the functional effect of this polymorphism compared with CYP2C19*1/*1 individuals, however comparisons of doses required to achieve target concentrations were not statistically different. The CYP2C19*17 allele predicted both VCZ exposure and dose required to achieve effective and non-toxic concentrations. CYP2C19 genotyping appears useful to guide VCZ initial dosing when coupled with TDM and to explain subtherapeutic concentrations frequently observed in clinical practice.

Effect of CYP3A4*22, POR*28, and PPARA rs4253728 on Sirolimus In Vitro Metabolism and Trough Concentrations in Kidney Transplant Recipients

BACKGROUND Recent studies have identified new candidate polymorphisms in the genes related to CYP3A activity or calcineurin inhibitor dose requirements in kidney transplant recipients. These genes and polymorphisms are CYP3A4 (cytochrome P450, family 3, subfamily A, polypeptide 4) (rs35599367-C>T; *22); POR [P450 (cytochrome) oxidoreductase] (rs1057868-C>T; *28); and PPARA (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha) (rs4253728-G>A). We investigated the impact of these polymorphisms on sirolimus (SRL) in vitro hepatic metabolism, SRL trough concentrations (C0), and SRL adverse events in kidney transplant recipients. METHODS The clinical study included 113 stable kidney transplant patients switched from a calcineurin inhibitor to SRL (SRL C0 measured at 1, 3, and 6 months thereafter). We investigated SRL metabolism in vitro using human liver microsomes derived from individual donors (n = 31). Microsomes and patients were genotyped by use of Taqman® allelic discrimination assays. The effects of polymorphisms and covariates were studied using multilinear regression imbedded in linear mixed-effect models or logistic regressions. RESULTS In vitro, the CYP3A4*22 allele resulted in approximately 20% lower metabolic rates of SRL (P = 0.0411). No significant association was found between CYP3A4, CYP3A5, or PPARA genotypes and SRL dose, C0, or C0/dose in kidney transplant patients. POR*28 was associated with a minor but significant decrease in SRL log-transformed C0 [CT/TT vs CC, β = -0.15 (0.05); P = 0.0197] but this did not have any impact on the dose administered, which limited the relevance of the finding. After adjustment for nongenetic covariates and correction for false discovery finding, none of the single-nucleotide polymorphisms tested showed significant association with SRL adverse events. CONCLUSIONS These recently described polymorphisms do not seem to substantially influence the pharmacokinetics of SRL or the occurrence of SRL adverse events in kidney transplant recipients.

Association of sirolimus adverse effects with m-TOR, p70S6K or Raptor polymorphisms in kidney transplant recipients

Background The mammalian target of rapamycin (m-TOR) inhibitor sirolimus is an immunosuppressive drug used in kidney transplantation. m-TOR binds with Raptor and phosphorylates p70S6 kinase, a protein involved in numerous cell signalling pathways. We examined the association of candidate polymorphisms in m-TOR, Raptor and p70S6K, sirolimus dose and exposure, and other time-independent as well as time-dependent covariates, with sirolimus-induced adverse events in kidney transplant recipients. Methods This study included a first group of 113 patients, switched from a calcineurin inhibitor to sirolimus, and a validation group of 66 patients from another clinical trial, with the same immunosuppressive regimen. The effects of gene polymorphisms and covariates on the total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, haemoglobin, cutaneous adverse events, oedemas and infections were studied using multilinear regression, or logistic regression imbedded in linear mixed-effect models. Results An m-TOR variant haplotype was significantly associated with a decrease in haemoglobin levels in the two populations of patients (discovery group: &bgr;=−0.82 g/dl, P=0.0076; validation group: &bgr;=−1.58 g/dl, P=0.0308). Increased sirolimus trough levels were significantly associated with increased total cholesterol levels (discovery group: &bgr;=0.02 g/l, P<0.0001; validation group: &bgr;=0.02 g/l, P=0.0002) and triglyceride levels (discovery group: &bgr;=0.02 g/l, P=0.0059; validation group: &bgr;=0.05 g/l, P=0.0370). Sirolimus trough levels were also associated with an increased risk for cutaneous adverse events [odds ratio=1.97, 95% confidence interval (1.32–1.94), P=0.0009] and oedemas [odds ratio=1.16, 95% confidence interval (1.03–1.30), P=0.01342] in the discovery group, but this was not confirmed in the validation group. Conclusion These results provide evidence of an association between an m-TOR haplotype and a decrease in haemoglobin in renal transplant recipients.

Associations between polymorphisms in target, metabolism, or transport proteins of mycophenolate sodium and therapeutic or adverse effects in kidney transplant patients.

Objectives Different associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in cellular target, metabolism enzymes or transport proteins, and biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR) or adverse events have been reported in transplant patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil. This work aimed to study these in patients on enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS). Patients and methods The study included 189 renal transplant patients from the DOMINOS trial. Fifteen SNPs in IMPDH2, IMPDH1, ABCC2, SLCO1B3, UGT1A8, UGT1A9, UGT2B7, CYP2C8, HUS1, and IL12A were genotyped in all patients. Associations between SNPs and the first event of BPAR or diarrhea were investigated using multivariate logistic regressions. Associations between SNPs and leukopenia or anemia at nine different visits between days 0 and 190 after transplantation were studied using time-dependent Cox proportional hazards regression models. Results Multivariate analyses showed that the CYP2C8 rs11572076 wild-type genotype was associated significantly with a lower risk of leukopenia [GG vs. GA: hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) 0.14 (0.03, 0.59), P=0.00783]. Higher EC-MPS doses and the UGT2B7 c.−840 G>A variant allele were associated with an increased risk of anemia [EC-MPS per unit dose increase: 1.004 (1.003, 1.005), P<0.0001; UGT2B7 GA vs. AA: 1.65 (1.12, 2.43), P=0.01043; GG vs. AA: 1.88 (1.23, 2.88), P=0.00343]. However, no significant association was found between any of the SNPs studied and diarrhea or BPAR. Conclusion Two pharmacogenetic associations reported previously with mycophenolate mofetil were found in a population of 189 renal transplant patients treated with EC-MPS.

Impact of longitudinal exposure to mycophenolic acid on acute rejection in renal-transplant recipients using a joint modeling approach.

This study aimed to investigate the association between longitudinal exposure to mycophenolic acid (MPA) and acute rejection (AR) risk in the first year after renal transplantation, and to propose MPA exposure targets conditionally to this association. A joint model, adjusted for monitoring strategy (fixed-dose versus concentration-controlled) and recipient age, was developed; it combined a mixed-effects model to describe the whole pattern of MPA exposure (i.e. area under the concentration-time curve (AUC)) and a survival model. MPA AUC thresholds were determined using time-dependent receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curves. Data from 490 adult renal-transplant recipients, representative of the general population of adult renal-transplant patients (i.e. including patients considered at low immunological risk-enrolled in the OPERA trial as well as second renal transplant and patients co-treated by either cyclosporine or tacrolimus), were analyzed. A significant association was found between the longitudinal exposure to MPA (MPA AUCs=f(t)) and AR (p=0.0081), and validated by bootstrapping. A significant positive correlation was observed between time post-transplantation and ROC thresholds which increased in average from 35 mg h/L in the first days to 41 mg h/L beyond six months post-transplantation (p<0.001). Using a new modeling approach which recognizes the repeated measures in a same patient, this study supports the association between MPA exposure and AR.