Functional CYP3A variants affecting tacrolimus trough blood concentrations in Chinese renal transplant recipients

The aim of this study was to identify novel genetic variants affecting tacrolimus trough blood concentrations. We analyzed the association between 58 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across the CYP3A gene cluster and the log-transformed tacrolimus concentration/dose ratio (log (C 0 /D)) in 819 renal transplant recipients (Discovery cohort). Multivariate linear regression was used to test for associations between tacrolimus log (C 0 /D) and clinical factors. Luciferase reporter gene assays were used to evaluate the functions of select SNPs. Associations of putative functional SNPs with log (C 0 /D) were further tested in 631 renal transplant recipients (Replication cohort). Nine SNPs were significantly associated with tacrolimus log (C 0 /D) after adjustment for CYP3A5*3 and clinical factors. Dual luciferase reporter assays indicated that the rs4646450 G allele and rs3823812 T allele were significantly associated with increased normalized luciferase activity ratios ( p < 0.01). Moreover, CYP3A7*2 was associated with higher TAC log(C 0 /D) in the group of CYP3A5 expressers. Age, serum creatinine and hematocrit were significantly associated with tacrolimus log (C 0 /D). CYP3A7*2 , rs4646450, and rs3823812 are proposed as functional SNPs affecting tacrolimus trough blood concentrations in Chinese renal transplant recipients. Clinical factors also significantly affect tacrolimus metabolism.