Characterization of cyclosporine A uptake in human erythrocytes

More than 70% of cyclosporine A (CsA) is bound to erythrocytes at whole blood concentrations of 50–1000 ng·ml−1. Cytosolic CsA is bound to the erythrocyte peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase cyclophilin. Measurements of serum CsA levels under clinical conditions are hampered by a temperature-dependent translocation of CsA into erythrocytes during cooling of the probes to room temperature. In order to characterize the kinetics of CsA uptake and to find a specific uptake inhibitor, we developed a method to measure the velocity of uptake based on rapid cooling of the erythrocyte suspension.