title: Ethnicity-dependent polymorphism in Na+-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (SLC10A1) reveals a domain critical for bile acid substrate recognition.
abstract: The key transporter responsible for hepatic uptake of bile acids from portal circulation is Na+-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP, SLC10A1). This transporter is thought to be critical for the maintenance of enterohepatic recirculation of bile acids and hepatocyte function. Therefore, functionally relevant polymorphisms in this transporter would be predicted to have an important impact on bile acid homeostasis/liver function. However, little is known regarding genetic heterogeneity in NTCP. In this study, we demonstrate the presence of multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms in NTCP in populations of European, African, Chinese, and Hispanic Americans. Specifically four nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with a significant loss of transport function were identified. Cell surface biotinylation experiments indicated that the altered transport activity of T668C (Ile223-->Thr), a variant seen only in African Americans, was due at least in part to decreased plasma membrane expression. Similar expression patterns were observed when the variant alleles were expressed in HepG2 cells, and plasma membrane expression was assessed using immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. Interestingly the C800T (Ser267-->Phe) variant, seen only in Chinese Americans, exhibited a near complete loss of function for bile acid uptake yet fully normal transport function for the non-bile acid substrate estrone sulfate, suggesting this position may be part of a region in the transporter critical and specific for bile acid substrate recognition. Accordingly, our study indicates functionally important polymorphisms in NTCP exist and that the likelihood of being carriers of such polymorphisms is dependent on ethnicity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-6602, USA.
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Brenda F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Leake
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Wooin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Richard B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D044466:Asian People; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001692:Biological Transport; D019921:Biotinylation; D044383:Black People; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006031:Glycosylation; D006367:HeLa Cells; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D029363:Organic Anion Transporters, Sodium-Dependent; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011485:Protein Binding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D027981:Symporters; D013656:Taurocholic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000235:genetics; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D029363:Organic Anion Transporters, Sodium-Dependent; D027981:Symporters; C071908:sodium-bile acid cotransporter; D013656:Taurocholic Acid