Lipopolysaccharide-induced down-regulation of organic anion transporting polypeptide 4 (Oatp4; Slc21a10) is independent of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, Interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, or inducible nitric oxide synthase.

Organic anion transporting polypeptide 4 (Oatp4; Slc21a10) is expressed almost exclusively in liver, where it mediates uptake of a variety of compounds, including bile acids, as well as other endo- and xenobiotics, across hepatic sinusoidal membranes in a Na+-independent manner. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been shown to decrease Oatp4 mRNA levels in a dose- and time-dependent manner in Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-normal (C3H/OuJ) mice, but not in TLR4-mutant (C3H/HeJ) mice. Moreover, after LPS administration, serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are markedly lower in TLR4-mutant mice than in TLR4-normal mice. Thus, TLR4 is considered an upstream mediator of LPS-induced decrease in mouse Oatp4 mRNA. LPS is thought to alter liver gene expression through LPS-induced cytokines or nitric oxide (NO). TNF receptor p55 (TNFRp55) and type I IL-1 receptor (IL-1RI) mediate the biological functions of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta, respectively. Therefore, to determine whether endogenous cytokines or NO are mediators of LPS-induced down-regulation of Oatp4, Oatp4 mRNA levels were determined in mice deficient in the TNFRp55, IL-1RI, IL-6, or inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) after LPS administration. Mice homozygous for a targeted deletion of genes for TNFRp55, IL-1RI, IL-6, or iNOS exhibited similar decreases in Oatp4 mRNA levels as wild-type mice after LPS administration. Moreover, in mouse hepatoma cells, treatment with TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, or IL-6 individually or in combination did not suppress activity of mouse Oatp4 promoter (-4.8 kb to +30). Therefore, LPS-induced down-regulation of Oatp4 appears to be independent of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, or iNOS.