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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Removal of Arsenic Using a Cationic Polymer Gel Impregnated with Iron Hydroxide
Published on: June 28, 2019
Organic anion transporting polypeptide-C mediates arsenic uptake in HEK-293 cells
Wen-Jen Lu1, Ikumi Tamai, Jun-ichi Nezu
1Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Abstract:
Arsenic is an established human carcinogen. The role of aquaglyroporins (AQPs) in arsenic disposition was recently identified. In order to examine whether organic anion transporting polypeptide-C (OATP-C) also plays a role in arsenic transport, OATP-C cDNA was transfected into cells of a human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK-293). Transfection increased uptake of the model OATP-C substrate, estradiol-17beta-D-glucuronide, by 10-fold. In addition, we measured uptake and cytotoxicity of arsenate, arsenite, monomethylarsonate(MMA(V)), and dimethylarsinate (DMA(V)). Transfection of OATP-C increased uptake and cytotoxicity of arsenate and arsenite, but not of MMA(V) or DMA(V). Rifampin and taurocholic acid (a substrate of OATP-C) reversed the increased toxicity of arsenate and arsenite seen in OATP-C-transfected cells. The increase in uptake of inorganic arsenic was not as great as that of estradiol-17beta-D-glucuronide. Our results suggest that OATP-C can transport inorganic arsenic in a (GSH)-dependent manner. However, this may not be the major pathway for arsenic transport.
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