Modulation of organic anion transporting polypeptide 1 and multidrug resistance protein 3 expression in the liver and kidney of Gunn rats.

Background: Gunn rat is an animal model of Crigler-Najjar syndrome (CNS) type I that develops jaundice due to defect of bilirubin conjugation. Bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT1A1), which plays a critical role in bilirubin glucuronidation, has been reported to be deficient in CNS type 1. On the other hand, little is known about the expression of organic anion transporters in Gunn rats.

Dietary iron restriction improves aminotransferase levels in chronic hepatitis C patients.

Background/aims: It is generally accepted that iron overload plays an important role in the pathogenesis of liver cell injury in chronic hepatitis C. The present study was undertaken to evaluate whether low-iron diet improves liver function tests in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Methodology: Seventeen patients with chronic hepatitis C (13 men and 4 women, 54 +/- 14 years old) that did not respond to, or were unsuitable for interferon therapy, were enrolled in this study.

Increased renal expression of bilirubin glucuronide transporters in a rat model of obstructive jaundice.

Regulation of bilirubin glucuronide transporters during hyperbilirubinemia in hepatic and extrahepatic tissues is not completely clear. In the present study, we evaluated the regulation of the bilirubin glucuronide transporters, multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRP)2 and 3, in rats with obstructive jaundice. Bile duct ligation (BDL) or sham operation was performed in Wistar rats.

Increased expression of multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (mrp1) in hepatocyte basolateral membrane and renal tubular epithelia after bile duct ligation in rats.

Components of the multidrug resistance-associated protein (mrp) family mediate the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent transport of conjugated organic anions in the liver. Of these, mrp1 and mrp2 have been shown to have similar substrate specificity and nucleotide sequence. The intracellular localization and distribution of mrp1 under normal condition and cholestasis have not been as yet completely elucidated.