Received for publication October 22, 2007.
Revised March 28, 2008.
Accepted for publication March 31, 2008.

Organic Anion Transporter 3 (Oat3/Slc22a8) Interacts with Carboxyfluoroquinolones and Deletion Increases Systemic Exposure to Ciprofloxacin

Abstract

Carboxyfluoroquinolones, such as ciprofloxacin, are employed for numerous infectious diseases. Renal secretion is a major determinant of their systemic and urinary concentration, but the specific transporters involved are virtually unknown. In vivo studies implicate the organic anion transporter (OAT) family as a pivotal component of carboxyfluoroquinolone renal secretion. Therefore, this study identified the specific renal basolateral OAT(s) involved, thereby highlighting potential sources of carboxyfluoroquinolone-drug interactions and variable efficacy. Two heterologous expression systems, Xenopus laevis oocytes and cell monolayers, were employed to determine the roles of murine and human renal basolateral mOat1/hOAT1 and mOat3/hOAT3. Ciprofloxacin was transported by mOat3 in both systems (K_m, 70±6 µM), and demonstrated no interaction with mOat1 or hOAT1. Furthermore, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, and gatifloxacin exhibited concentration-dependent inhibition of transport on mOat3 in cells, with inhibition constants of 198±39, 558±75, 745±165, and 941±232 µM, respectively. Ciprofloxacin and gatifloxacin also inhibited hOAT3. Subsequently, in vivo elimination of ciprofloxacin was assessed in wild-type and Oat3 null mice (Oat3(-/-)). Oat3(-/-) mice exhibited significantly elevated plasma levels of ciprofloxacin at clinically-relevant concentrations (P<0.05, males; P<0.01, females). Oat3(-/-) mice also demonstrated a reduced volume of distribution (27%, P<0.01, males; 14%, P<0.01, females) and increased area under the concentration-time curve (25%, P<0.05, males; 33%, P<0.01, females). Female Oat3(-/-) mice had a 35% (P<0.01) reduction in total clearance of ciprofloxacin relative to wild-type. Additionally, putative ciprofloxacin metabolites were significantly elevated in Oat3(-/-) mice. The present findings indicate that polymorphisms of, and drug interactions on, hOAT3 may influence carboxyfluoroquinolone efficacy, especially in urinary tract infections.

Key words: Organic anion, Antibiotic resistance, Knockout, Pharmacokinetics, metabolism and activation