Physiological and Molecular Characterization of Aristolochic Acid Transport by the Kidney[S]

Document Type

Article

Original Publication Date

2011

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

Volume

338

Issue

2

First Page

588

Last Page

597

DOI of Original Publication

10.1124/jpet.111.180984

Comments

Originally published at doi:10.1124/jpet.111.180984

PMCID: PMC3141898

Date of Submission

October 2015

Abstract

Consumption of herbal medicines derived from Aristolochia plants is associated with a progressive tubulointerstitial disease known as aristolochic acid (AA) nephropathy. The nephrotoxin produced naturally by these plants is AA-I, a nitrophenanthrene carboxylic acid that selectively targets the proximal tubule. This nephron segment is prone to toxic injury because of its role in secretory elimination of drugs and other xenobiotics. Here, we characterize the handling of AA-I by membrane transporters involved in renal organic anion transport. Uptake assays in heterologous expression systems identified murine organic anion transporters (mOat1, mOat2, and mOat3) as capable of mediating transport of AA-I. Kinetic analyses showed that all three transporters have an affinity for AA-I in the submicromolar range and thus are likely to operate at toxicologically relevant concentrations in vivo. Structure-activity relationships revealed that the carboxyl group is critical for high-affinity interaction of AA-I with mOat1, mOat2, and mOat3, whereas the nitro group is required only by mOat1. Furthermore, the 8-methoxy group, although essential for toxicity, was not requisite for transport. Mouse renal cortical slices avidly accumulated AA-I, achieving slice-to-medium concentration ratios >10. Uptake by slices was sensitive to known mOat1 and mOat3 substrates and the organic anion transport inhibitor probenecid, which also blocked the production of DNA adducts formed with reactive intracellular metabolites of AA-I. Taken together, these findings indicate that OAT family members mediate high-affinity transport of AA-I and may be involved in the site-selective toxicity and renal elimination of this nephrotoxin.

Rights

Copyright © 2011 by The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

Is Part Of

VCU Pharmaceutics Publications

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