Evaluation of the role of multidrug resistance-associated protein (Mrp) 3 and Mrp4 in hepatic basolateral excretion of sulfate and glucuronide metabolites of acetaminophen, 4-methylumbelliferone, and harmol in Abcc3-/- and Abcc4-/- mice

Although glucuronide and sulfate conjugates of many drugs and endogenous compounds undergo appreciable hepatic basolateral excretion into sinusoidal blood, the mechanisms that govern basolateral translocation of these hydrophilic metabolites have not been completely elucidated. In the present study, the involvement in this process of Mrp3 and Mrp4, two basolateral efflux transporters, was evaluated by analyzing the hepatic basolateral excretion of the glucuronide and sulfate metabolites of acetaminophen, 4-methylumbelliferone, and harmol in Abcc3(-/-) and Abcc4(-/-) mice using a cassette dosing approach. In the livers of Abcc3(-/-) and Abcc4(-/-) mice, the basolateral excretory clearance of acetaminophen sulfate was reduced similar to 20 and similar to 20%, 4-methylumbelliferyl sulfate was reduced similar to 50 and similar to 65%, and harmol sulfate was decreased similar to 30 and similar to 45%, respectively. The basolateral excretory clearance of acetaminophen glucuronide, 4-methylumbelliferyl glucuronide, and harmol glucuronide was reduced by similar to 96, similar to 85, and similar to 40%, respectively, in the livers of Abcc3(-/-) mice. In contrast, basolateral excretory clearance of these glucuronide conjugates was unaffected by the absence of Mrp4. These results provide the first direct evidence that Mrp3 and Mrp4 participate in the hepatic basolateral excretion of sulfate conjugates, although additional mechanism(s) are likely involved. In addition, they reveal that Mrp3 mediates the hepatic basolateral excretion of diverse glucuronide conjugates.