title: Use of gadoxetate disodium for functional MRI based on its unique molecular mechanism.
abstract: Gadolinium ethoxybenzyl dimeglumine (gadoxetate) is a recently developed hepatocyte-specific MRI contrast medium. Gadoxetate demonstrates unique pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, because its uptake in hepatocytes occurs via the organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) transporter expressed at the sinusoidal membrane, and its biliary excretion via the multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs) at the canalicular membrane. Based on these characteristics, gadoxetate-enhanced MRI can provide functional information on hepatobiliary diseases, including liver function estimation, biliary drainage evaluation and characterization of hepatocarcinogenesis. In addition, understanding its mode of action can provide an opportunity to use gadoxetate for cellular and molecular imaging. Radiologists and imaging scientists should be familiar with the basic mechanism of gadoxetate and OATP/MRP transporters.
authors.affiliation: 1 Bioimaging Center, Asan Life Science Institution, Asan Medical Centre, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: YoonSeok
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: 1 Bioimaging Center, Asan Life Science Institution, Asan Medical Centre, Seoul, Republic of Korea.|2 Department of Radiology, Asan Medical Centre, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jimi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.affiliation: 1 Bioimaging Center, Asan Life Science Institution, Asan Medical Centre, Seoul, Republic of Korea.|2 Department of Radiology, Asan Medical Centre, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Cheol
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.affiliation: 1 Bioimaging Center, Asan Life Science Institution, Asan Medical Centre, Seoul, Republic of Korea.|2 Department of Radiology, Asan Medical Centre, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Won
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; C073590:gadolinium ethoxybenzyl DTPA; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA