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Updated: Nov 27, 2025

Quantification of the Immunosuppressant Tacrolimus on Dried Blood Spots Using LC-MS/MS
Published on: November 8, 2015
Differentially expressed urinary exo-miRs and clinical outcomes in kidney recipients on short-term tacrolimus
Renata Caroline Costa Freitas1, Raul Hernandes Bortolin1, Fabiana Dalla Vecchia Genvigir1
1Department of Clinical & Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil.
Abstract:
Aim: To analyze the expression of urinary exosome-derived miRNAs (exo-miRs) in kidney recipients on tacrolimus-based therapy. Patients & methods: Clinical and drug monitoring data were recorded from 23 kidney recipients. Expression of 93 exo-miRs was measured by quantitative PCR array and mRNA targets were explored. Results: 16 exo-miRs were differentially expressed, including marked upregulation of miR-155-5p, and downregulation of miR-223-3p and miR-1228-3p. Expression of miR-155-5p and miR-223-3p correlated with tacrolimus dose (p < 0.05), miR-223-3p with serum creatinine (p < 0.05), and miR-223-3p and miR-1228-3p with blood leukocytes (p < 0.05). 12 miRNAs have predicted targets involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, stress response, PIK3/AKT/mTOR and TGF-β signaling pathways. Conclusion: Differentially expressed urinary exo-miRs may be useful markers to monitor tacrolimus therapy and graft function in kidney transplantation.
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