In vitro evidence for the role of OATP and OCT uptake transporters in drug-drug interactions.
BACKGROUND
Transport proteins, for example the drug export pump P-glycoprotein, are important for the absorption, distribution and excretion of drugs. Inhibition and induction of P-glycoprotein efflux function is a well-established mechanism of drug-drug interactions. Alteration of transporter-mediated drug uptake by concomitantly administered drugs may also result in a change in drug pharmacokinetics. These uptake transporter-mediated drug-drug interactions are the focus of this review.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the current in vitro evidence on interactions mediated by OATPs (organic anion transporting polypeptides) and OCTs (organic cation transporters).


METHODS
Comparing data of in vivo observed drug-drug interactions with in vitro analysed alterations in drug transport mediated by the hepatic expressed uptake transporters OATP1B1, OATP1B3 and OCT1 and by the renal expressed OCT2 protein.


CONCLUSIONS
Some of the previously in vivo described drug-drug interactions could be explained by alteration in uptake transporter function demonstrating that inhibition or induction of uptake transporters is a newly recognised mechanism of potential drug-drug interactions.
Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Clinical Toxicology, Fahrstrasse 17, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany.
Jürgen
J
Kindla
Martin F
MF
Fromm
Jörg
J
König
D001692:Biological Transport / Q000502:physiology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D027381:Liver-Specific Organic Anion Transporter 1; D027361:Organic Anion Transporters / Q000378:metabolism*; D029362:Organic Anion Transporters, Sodium-Independent / Q000378:metabolism; D027701:Organic Cation Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D027702:Organic Cation Transporter 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D000075102:Organic Cation Transporter 2; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000378:metabolism; D000074542:Solute Carrier Organic Anion Transporter Family Member 1B3
D027381:Liver-Specific Organic Anion Transporter 1; D027361:Organic Anion Transporters; D029362:Organic Anion Transporters, Sodium-Independent; D027701:Organic Cation Transport Proteins; D027702:Organic Cation Transporter 1; D000075102:Organic Cation Transporter 2; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; C491013:SLC22A2 protein, human; C503999:SLCO1B1 protein, human; C421209:SLCO1B3 protein, human; D000074542:Solute Carrier Organic Anion Transporter Family Member 1B3