Uric Acid Transport, Transporters, and their Pharmacological Targeting.

Abstract

Knowledge of uric acid crystallopathies preceded the identification of this compound. How the body handles and transports uric acid proved even more elusive. Over several decades, advances in molecular phenotyping have illuminated this hitherto nebulous field. Closely parallel to the characterization of the transport mechanisms of uric acid in the body was the development of drugs designed to manipulate uric acid levels. In this review, we highlight the study of uric acid transport and transporters. This is an evolving field, and we expect our knowledge of the transport mechanisms to both widen and deepen further. We focus on the best-characterized transporters rather than an exhaustive catalog of all suspected transporters. We review the established and novel compounds that modulate uric acid transport.