ABCC2/Abcc2 transport property in different species and its modulation by heterogeneous factors

ABCC2/Abcc2 is a member of the ABC transporter family expressed mainly in the liver bile canalicular membrane and involved in the excretion of various kinds of organic anions from hepatocytes into bile. During the drug development process, species differences in the pharmaco- and toxicokinetics of candidate drugs are a major problem. It is possible that ABCC2/Abcc2 transport activity as well as inhibitor sensitivity could lead to a number of phenomena (e.g. a difference in the biliary excretion clearance, a delay in the elimination half-life from the circulating blood and toxic side effects on ABCC2 -mediated drug-drug interactions, such as drug-induced hyperbilirubinemia). From this point of view, it is useful to be able to predict during preclinical development if certain compounds of interest are substrates and/or modulators of ABCC2. Although an in vivo animal model or an in vitro model expressing ABCC2 are useful assay systems, these have some limitations as far as predicting the transport profile of compounds in vivo is concerned. I will present an overview of the species differences in the tissue distribution, function, and also characteristic transport properties of ABCC2/Abcc2 mainly in an in vitro experimental model.