Skip to main content
Journal cover image

The effect of genotype on methotrexate polyglutamate variability in juvenile idiopathic arthritis and association with drug response.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Becker, ML; Gaedigk, R; van Haandel, L; Thomas, B; Lasky, A; Hoeltzel, M; Dai, H; Stobaugh, J; Leeder, JS
Published in: Arthritis Rheum
January 2011

OBJECTIVE: The response to and toxicity of methotrexate (MTX) are unpredictable in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Intracellular polyglutamation of MTX, assessed by measuring concentrations of MTX polyglutamates (MTXGlu), has been demonstrated to be a promising predictor of drug response. Therefore, this study was aimed at investigating the genetic predictors of MTXGlu variability and associations between MTXGlu and drug response in JIA. METHODS: The study was designed as a single-center cross-sectional analysis of patients with JIA who were receiving stable doses of MTX at a tertiary care children's hospital. After informed consent was obtained from the 104 patients with JIA, blood was withdrawn during routine MTX-screening laboratory testing. Clinical data were collected by chart review. Genotyping for 34 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 18 genes within the MTX metabolic pathway was performed. An ion-pair chromatographic procedure with mass spectrometric detection was used to measure MTXGlu1-7. RESULTS: Analysis and genotyping of MTXGlu was completed in the 104 patients. K-means clustering resulted in 3 distinct patterns of MTX polyglutamation. Cluster 1 had low red blood cell (RBC) MTXGlu concentrations, cluster 2 had moderately high RBC MTXGlu1+2 concentrations, and cluster 3 had high concentrations of MTXGlu, specifically MTXGlu3-5. SNPs in the purine and pyrimidine synthesis pathways, as well as the adenosine pathway, were significantly associated with cluster subtype. The cluster with high concentrations of MTXGlu3-5 was associated with elevated liver enzyme levels on liver function tests (LFTs), and there were higher concentrations of MTXGlu3-5 in children who reported gastrointestinal side effects and had abnormal findings on LFTs. No association was noted between MTXGlu and active arthritis. CONCLUSION: MTXGlu remains a potentially useful tool for determining outcomes in patients with JIA being treated with MTX. The genetic predictors of MTXGlu variability may also contribute to a better understanding of the intracellular biotransformation of MTX in these patients.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Arthritis Rheum

DOI

EISSN

1529-0131

Publication Date

January 2011

Volume

63

Issue

1

Start / End Page

276 / 285

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Polyglutamic Acid
  • Methotrexate
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Genotype
  • Female
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Becker, M. L., Gaedigk, R., van Haandel, L., Thomas, B., Lasky, A., Hoeltzel, M., … Leeder, J. S. (2011). The effect of genotype on methotrexate polyglutamate variability in juvenile idiopathic arthritis and association with drug response. Arthritis Rheum, 63(1), 276–285. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.30080
Becker, Mara L., Roger Gaedigk, Leon van Haandel, Bradley Thomas, Andrew Lasky, Mark Hoeltzel, Hongying Dai, John Stobaugh, and J Steven Leeder. “The effect of genotype on methotrexate polyglutamate variability in juvenile idiopathic arthritis and association with drug response.Arthritis Rheum 63, no. 1 (January 2011): 276–85. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.30080.
Becker ML, Gaedigk R, van Haandel L, Thomas B, Lasky A, Hoeltzel M, et al. The effect of genotype on methotrexate polyglutamate variability in juvenile idiopathic arthritis and association with drug response. Arthritis Rheum. 2011 Jan;63(1):276–85.
Becker, Mara L., et al. “The effect of genotype on methotrexate polyglutamate variability in juvenile idiopathic arthritis and association with drug response.Arthritis Rheum, vol. 63, no. 1, Jan. 2011, pp. 276–85. Pubmed, doi:10.1002/art.30080.
Becker ML, Gaedigk R, van Haandel L, Thomas B, Lasky A, Hoeltzel M, Dai H, Stobaugh J, Leeder JS. The effect of genotype on methotrexate polyglutamate variability in juvenile idiopathic arthritis and association with drug response. Arthritis Rheum. 2011 Jan;63(1):276–285.
Journal cover image

Published In

Arthritis Rheum

DOI

EISSN

1529-0131

Publication Date

January 2011

Volume

63

Issue

1

Start / End Page

276 / 285

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Polyglutamic Acid
  • Methotrexate
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Genotype
  • Female
  • Cross-Sectional Studies