Tissue distribution, gender-divergent expression, ontogeny, and chemical induction of multidrug resistance transporter genes (Mdr1a, Mdr1b, Mdr2) in mice.

Multidrug resistance (Mdr) transporters are ATP-binding cassette transporters that efflux amphipathic cations from cells and protect tissues from xenobiotics. Unfortunately, Mdr transporters also efflux anticancer drugs from some tumor cells, resulting in multidrug resistance. There are two groups of Mdrs in mice: group I includes Mdr1a and Mdr1b that transport xenobiotics, whereas group II is Mdr2, a flipase that facilitates phospholipid excretion into bile.