Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptide Family Research Articles

Polymorphisms and Linkage Disequilibrium of the OATP8 (OATP1B3) Gene in Japanese Subjects

OATP8, a member of the organic anion-transporting polypeptide family, is expressed on the sinusoidal membrane of hepatocytes, and transports endogenous organic anions, such as 17beta-glucuronosyl estradiol, and xenobiotic substances, such as digoxin. The objective of this study is to search for polymorphisms of the OATP8 gene and to assess the allele frequency of the polymorphisms in the Japanese population. Analysis of the OATP8 gene in 79 subjects revealed complete linkage of two deletion polymorphisms in the 5' regulatory region, deletion from position -28 to -11 and deletion from position -7 to -4, with an allele frequency of 0.196 for the deletion allele. The polymorphisms T334G (Ser112Ala) and G699A (Met233Ile) were also shown to be in complete linkage disequilibrium, with an allele frequency of 0.728 for the variant (112Ala/233Ile) allele. Interestingly, linkage disequilibrium was identified between the ins/del polymorphism and SNPs at 112 and 233. The predicted major haplotype was the insert-variant type with a haplotype frequency of 0.60.

Regulation of Hepatic Transporters by Xenobiotic Receptors

Chemicals that increase expression of phase-I and -II biotransformation enzymes in liver, as well as enhance hepatic uptake and biliary excretion are often referred to as microsomal enzyme inducers (MEIs). Early studies suggested that drug metabolism might be coordinately regulated along with drug efflux from hepatocytes as a means for the liver to rid itself of foreign chemicals. Since then, the identification and characterization of nuclear receptors (NRs) has aided in understanding of how various MEIs enhance xeniobiotic uptake, biotransformation, and excretion. In addition, the NRs by which several classes of MEIs induce phase-I and -II drug metabolizing enzymes have been elucidated (i.e. AHR, CAR, PXR, PPARalpha, Nrf2). Several transporter families which mediate uptake of chemicals into liver and excretion of chemicals from liver into blood and/or bile have been cloned and identified. In general, the organic anion transporting polypeptide family (Oatps) along with Organic cation transporter 1 (Oct1) and Organic anion transporter 2 mediate uptake of a large number of xenobiotics from blood into liver. Conversely, Multidrug resistance proteins (Mdrs), Multidrug resistance-associated proteins (Mrps), and Breast cancer resistance protein (Bcrp) mediate efflux of xenobiotics from liver into bile or blood. Recent studies have demonstrated that MEIs increase expression of various Oatps, Mrps, and Mdrs in liver, and some occur via activation of nuclear receptors.

CONTRIBUTION OF OATP (ORGANIC ANION-TRANSPORTING POLYPEPTIDE) FAMILY TRANSPORTERS TO THE HEPATIC UPTAKE OF FEXOFENADINE IN HUMANS

Fexofenadine hydrochloride (FEX), a second generation H(1)-receptor antagonist, is mainly eliminated from the liver into bile in unchanged form. Recent studies have shown that FEX can be accepted by human MDR1 (P-glycoprotein), OATP1A2 [organic anion-transporting polypeptide (OATP)-A, and OATP2B1 (OATP-B)] expression systems. However, other transporters responsible for the hepatic uptake of FEX have not yet been identified. In the present study, we evaluated the contribution of OATP family transporters, namely OATP1B1 (OATP2/OATP-C), OATP1B3 (OATP8), and OATP2B1 (OATP-B), to FEX uptake using transporter-expressing HEK293 (human embryonic kidney) cells. The uptake of FEX in OATP1B3-expressing cells was significantly greater than that in vector-transfected cells. On the other hand, OATP1B1- or OATP2B1-mediated uptake of FEX was not statistically significant. OATP1B3-mediated transport could be explained by a one-saturable component with a Michaelis constant (K(m)) of 108 +/- 11 microM. The inhibitory effect of FEX on the uptake of estrone-3-sulfate (E(1)S), cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8), and 17beta-estradiol-17beta-d-glucuronide (E(2)17betaG) was also examined. Both OATP1B1- and OATP1B3-mediated E(2)17betaG uptake was inhibited by FEX. The K(i) values were 148 +/- 61 and 205 +/- 72 microM for OATP1B1 and OATP1B3, respectively. FEX also inhibited OATP1B3-mediated CCK-8 uptake and OATP1B1-mediated E(1)S uptake with a K(i) value of 83.3 +/- 15.3 and 257 +/- 84 microM, respectively, suggesting that FEX could not be used as a specific inhibitor for OATP1B1 and OATP1B3, although FEX was preferentially accepted by OATP1B3. In conclusion, this is, to our knowledge, the first demonstration that OATP1B3 is thought to be a major transporter involved in hepatic uptake of FEX in humans.

Bile Salt Export Pump (BSEP/ABCB11) Can Transport a Nonbile Acid Substrate, Pravastatin

Pravastatin is a well known 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitor. Cumulative studies have shown that pravastatin is taken up into hepatocytes by the organic anion transporting polypeptide family transporters and excreted into the bile as an intact form by multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2). It is generally accepted that the bile salt export pump (BSEP/ABCB11) mainly transports bile acids and plays an indispensable role in their biliary excretion. Interestingly, we found that BSEP could accept pravastatin as a substrate. Significant ATP-dependent uptake of pravastatin by human BSEP (hBSEP)- and rat BSEP (rBsep)-expressing membrane vesicles was observed, and the ratio of the uptake activity of pravastatin to that of taurocholic acid (TCA) by hBSEP was 3.3-fold higher than that by rBsep. The K(m) value of pravastatin for hBSEP was 124 muM. A mutual inhibition study between TCA and pravastatin revealed that they competitively interact with hBSEP. Several statins inhibited the hBSEP- and rBsep-mediated uptake of TCA; however, the specific uptake of other statins (cerivastatin, fluvastatin, and pitavastatin) by hBSEP and rBSEP was not detected. The inhibitory effects of hydrophilic statins (pravastatin and rosuvastatin) on the uptake of TCA by BSEP were relatively lower than those of lipophilic statins. These data suggest that BSEP may be partly involved in the biliary excretion of pravastatin in both rats and humans.

Functional Characterization of Naturally Occurring Mutations in the Human SLC21A8 Gene

The members of the organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) family are involved in the uptake of endogenous and xenobiotic substances into cells. Three OATP family members, OATP8, OATP2 or OATP-C, and OATP-B, have been localized to the basolateral membrane of human hepatocytes and are involved in the vectorial transport of organic anions from blood into bile. As determined in several expression systems, human OATP8 (symbol SLC21A8) transports bromosulfophthalein, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, cholecystokinin, and 17β-glucuronosyl estradiol. It has been anticipated that variants of the human OATP8 protein may affect drug disposition and response. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify naturally occurring mutations in the SLC21A8 gene and to analyze their functional consequences.

Organic anion-transporting polypeptide (OATP) transporter family and drug disposition.

Drug transporters are increasingly recognized as a key determinant of drug disposition. Recent studies have revealed that targeted expression of drug uptake and efflux transporters to specific cell membrane domains allows for the efficient directional movement of many drugs in clinical use. While the role of certain efflux transporters such as MDR1 (P-glycoprotein) in drug disposition has been extensively studied, emerging evidence suggests that uptake transporters may also be important to the intestinal absorption and renal or hepatic elimination of drugs. Members of the organic anion-transporting polypeptide (OATP) family of drug uptake transporters have been found capable of transporting a large array of structurally divergent drugs. Moreover, expression of OATP isoforms in the gastrointestinal tract, liver and kidney, as well as at the level of the blood-brain barrier, has important implications for our understanding of the factors governing drug absorption, elimination and tissue penetration.

Regulation of rat organic anion transporters in bile salt-induced cholestatic hepatitis: Effect of ursodeoxycholate

Hepatic uptake of organic anions, including bile salts, is mediated by members of the organic anion-transporting polypeptide (Oatp) family. In rat liver, Oatp1 (Slc21a1), Oatp2 (Slc21a5), and Oatp4 (Slca10) are expressed at the basolateral membrane of hepatocytes and may be differentially regulated under pathophysiologic conditions such as cholestasis. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of cholic acid (CA) and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) on the expression of Oatp4 compared with Ntcp, Oatp1, and Oatp2. Wistar rats were fed with CA (0.5%) or both CA (0.5%) and UDCA (0.25%) for 3 weeks. Oatp expression was studied by Northern and Western blot analysis as well as immunofluorescence analysis. Transport function was compared measuring biliary secretion of 14C-CA and 14C-taurocholic acid (TCA). In CA-fed animals, biliary secretion of 14C-CA and 14C-TCA was markedly delayed over 40 minutes compared with controls. Accordingly, Oatp4 protein was significantly down-regulated in CA-fed animals together with Oatp1 and Ntcp. Cofeeding of CA plus UDCA prevented the impairment of 14C-CA and 14C-TCA secretion and the down-regulation of Oatp4. Oatp4 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels did not differ significantly between bile salt-fed groups, suggesting a posttranscriptional effect of CA on Oatp4 expression. In contrast to Oatp1 and Oatp4, Oatp2 protein expression was increased by CA feeding, indicating a differential regulation of Oatp transporters. In conclusion, we show that CA feeding may cause cholestasis associated with a posttranscriptional down-regulation of Oatp4. UDCA may prevent impairment of hepatic function by restoring hepatic transporter expression. (H epatology 2003;38:187-195.)

Active Influx Transport is Mediated by Members of the Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptide Family in Human Epidermal Keratinocytes

Normal human epidermal keratinocytes have been shown to express a cell-type-specific pattern of extrahepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes and efflux transport proteins showing that these cells metabolize and excrete a variety of xenobiotics. Recently transport proteins involved in the uptake of xenobiotics have been detected and here we analyzed the mRNA and protein expression profiles and functional activities of these proteins in human keratinocytes in comparison to primary liver cells. The transporters studied included the subtypes A, B, C, D, and E of the organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) family, which are responsible for the uptake of various anionic and neutral molecules and especially organic cations - including drugs. Constitutive expression of OATP-B, OATP-D, and OATP-E was shown for the first time in normal human epidermal keratinocytes on a molecular level using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and northern blot analysis, as well as in human skin tissue shown by tissue blot hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Expression of OATP-A and OATP-C was not detected in any of the keratinocyte samples. In contrast, liver tissue showed a significant expression of OATP-A and OATP-B as well as OATP-C, a weak expression of OATP-D, and no expression of OATP-E. These data revealed that normal human epidermal keratinocytes express a specific profile of transporters involved in drug influx. Using a newly developed uptake-transport assay, uptake of known and well-characterized OATP substrates like estradiol-17beta-glucuronide and estrone sulfate was inhibited in normal human epidermal keratinocytes by specific inhibitors such as taurocholate, verifying the functional capacity of the expressed OATPs. Human dermal fibroblasts seem to have a lower influx transport activity for estradiol-17beta-glucuronide, which correlates with the immunohistologic data. Even though the substrate specificity of the OATP isoforms is only partially known until now, our findings support the concept that uptake of large organic cations like drugs in keratinocytes is an active transport process mediated by members of the OATP family.

Human organic anion transporting polypeptide-C (SLC21A6) is a major determinant of rifampin-mediated pregnane X receptor activation.

Rifampin, a member of the rifamycin class of antibiotics, is well known for its ability to induce drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters, through activation of the pregnane X receptor. Available data suggest rifampin entry into hepatocytes may be transporter-mediated. Accordingly, it is therefore plausible that modulation of the achievable intracellular concentration of rifampin by drug uptake transporters would influence the degree of induction. In this study, we expressed an array of known hepatic uptake transporters to show the key hepatic rifampin uptake transporters are liver-specific members of the organic anion transporting polypeptide family (OATP). Indeed, both OATP-C and OATP8 seemed capable of mediating rifampin uptake into HeLa cells. OATP-C, however, seemed to have far greater affinity and capacity for rifampin transport. In addition, several allelic variants of OATP-C known to be present among European and African Americans were found to have markedly decreased rifampin transport activity. In cell-based, transactivation assays, OATP-C expression was associated with increased cellular rifampin retention as well as potentiation of PXR reporter gene activity. This is the first demonstration of an uptake transporter such as OATP-C, in modulating PXR function, and sheds important new insight into our understanding of the molecular determinants of PXR-mediated inductive processes.

Organic anion-transporting polypeptide B (OATP-B) and its functional comparison with three other OATPs of human liver

Background & Aims: Hepatic uptake of cholephilic organic compounds is mediated by members of the organic anion-transporting polypeptide (OATP) family. We aimed to characterize the novel OATP-B with respect to tissue distribution and hepatocellular localization and to compare its substrate specificity with those of OATP-A, OATP-C, and OATP8. Methods: Tissue distribution and hepatocellular localization of OATP-B were analyzed by Northern blotting and immunofluorescence, respectively. Transport of 16 substrates was measured for each individual human OATP in complementary RNA–injected Xenopus laevis oocytes. Results: Expression of OATP-B was most abundant in human liver, where it is localized at the basolateral membrane of hepatocytes. OATP-B, OATP-C, and OATP8 mediated high-affinity uptake of bromosulphophthalein (Km, ~0.7, 0.3, and 0.4 μmol/L, respectively). OATP-B also transported estrone-3-sulfate but not bile salts. Although OATP-A, OATP-C, and OATP8 exhibit broad overlapping substrate specificities, OATP8 was unique in transporting digoxin and exhibited especially high transport activities for the anionic cyclic peptides [d-penicillamine2,5]enkephalin (DPDPE; opioid-receptor agonist) and BQ-123 (endothelin-receptor antagonist). Conclusions: OATP-B is the third bromosulphophthalein uptake system localized at the basolateral membrane of human hepatocytes. OATP-B, OATP-C, and OATP8 account for the major part of sodium-independent bile salt, organic anion, and drug clearance of human liver.GASTROENTEROLOGY 2001;120:525-533

SL-1 - Molecular mechanisms of drug transport

Drugs ingested into the body are transported through the plasma membrane several times. Although hydrophobic low molecules may penetrate the cell membrane according to simple diffusion, most drugs need carrier proteins named transporters for their trans-membrane transport. Drug transporters are classified into 5 groups by their difference in molecular structures, substrate specificities and transport mechanisms. The five groups of drug transports are as follows: (1) organic ion transporter superfamily, (2) ATP-dependent transporter superfamily, (3) peptide transporter family, (4) organic anion transporting polypeptide family originated from liver and (5) amino acid-polyamine-choline transporter superfamily. Among the 5 groups, there are seen several common characteristics such as structures having 12-transmembrane spanning domains, multispecificity in substrate recognition, different tissue distribution and functional regulation by phosphorylation. Multiple substrate specificities of drug transporters are tentatively understood by their evolution, in which at earlier stages these molecules might be essential to absorb endogenously necessary nutrients, and thereafter structural homologs like drugs might be recognized by these transporters. Several topics remain to be elucidated such as functional significance of drug transporters in pharmacokinetics including drug/drug interaction, polymorphism of drug transporter genes, and molecular mechanisms of substrate recognition by drug transporters.

薬理学 ２１世紀への架け橋 薬物輸送の分子機構

Drugs ingested into the body are transported through the plasma membrane several times. Although hydrophobic low molecules may penetrate the cell membrane according to simple diffusion, most drugs need carrier proteins named transporters for their trans-membrane transport. Drug transporters are classified into 5 groups by their difference in molecular structures, substrate specificities and transport mechanisms. The five groups of drug transports are as follows: (1) organic ion transporter superfamily, (2) ATP-dependent transporter superfamily, (3) peptide transporter family, (4) organic anion transporting polypeptide family originated from liver and (5) amino acid-polyamine-choline transporter superfamily. Among the 5 groups, there are seen several common characteristics such as structures having 12-transmembrane spanning domains, multispecificity in substrate recognition, different tissue distribution and functional regulation by phosphorylation. Multiple substrate specificities of drug transporters are tentatively understood by their evolution, in which at earlier stages these molecules might be essential to absorb endogenously necessary nutrients, and thereafter structural homologs like drugs might be recognized by these transporters. Several topics remain to be elucidated such as functional significance of drug transporters in pharmacokinetics including drug/drug interaction, polymorphism of drug transporter genes, and molecular mechanisms of substrate recognition by drug transporters.