The Xenobiotics Transporters Mrp2 (Abcc2) and Bcrp (Abcg2): Basal Expression, Regulatory Events and their Mechanisms in Obstructive Cholestasis are Gender-specific

Introduction: Mrp2 (Abcc2) and Bcrp (Abcg2) both are ABC-transporter expressed in the apical membrane of hepatocytes and enterocytes where they restrict uptake and systemic bioavailability of xenobiotics including drugs and carcinogens (Dietrich et al., Gut 2003). Since the extent of (geno-)toxic effects of xenobiotics has widely been shown to be gender-dependent (Ghandi et al., Ann Rev Pharm Tox 2004), we analyzed differences in the basal expression and regulation of both transporters between male and female rats during obstructive cholestasis. Methods: After one week of bile-duct ligation in Sprague-Dawley rat…