Liver transporters in hepatic drug disposition: an update

Drug transporters expressed on the hepatocyte membrane play an important role in hepatic drug disposition. In the last two decades, systematic research has resulted in a better understanding of the diversity, expression and substrate specificities of drug transporters in the liver. Here we review recent studies on the role of transporters in drug-drug interactions and disease states such as cirrhosis. We conclude the review by considering techniques and model systems used to study hepatic transporters, including the latest technological developments such as multiphoton microscopy.