The heteromeric steroid transporter organic solute transporter α/β (OSTα/β, SLC51A/B) was discovered over a decade ago, but its physiological significance in the liver remains uncertain. A major challenge has been the lack of suitable models expressing OSTα/β. Based on observations first reported here that hepatic OSTα/β is upregulated in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, the aim of this research was to develop an in vitro model to evaluate OSTα/β function and interaction with drugs and bile acids. OSTα/β expression in human liver tissue was analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence. Radiolabeled compounds were used to determine OSTα/β-mediated transport in the established in vitro model. The effect of bile acids and drugs, including those associated with cholestatic drug-induced liver injury, on OSTα/β-mediated transport was evaluated. Expression of OSTα/β was elevated in the liver of patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and primary biliary cholangitis, whereas hepatocyte expression of OSTα/β was low in control liver tissue. Studies in the novel cell-based system showed rapid and linear OSTα/β-mediated transport for all tested compounds: dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, digoxin, estrone sulfate, and taurocholate. The interaction study with 26 compounds revealed novel OSTα/β inhibitors: a biomarker for cholestasis, glycochenodeoxycholic acid; the major metabolite of troglitazone, troglitazone sulfate; and a macrocyclic antibiotic, fidaxomicin. Additionally, some drugs (e.g., digoxin) consistently stimulated taurocholate uptake in OSTα/β-overexpressing cells. Our findings demonstrate that OSTα/β is an important transporter in liver disease and imply a role for this transporter in bile acid-bile acid and drug-bile acid interactions, as well as cholestatic drug-induced liver injury. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The organic solute transporter OSTα/β is highly expressed in hepatocytes of liver tissue obtained from patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and primary biliary cholangitis. OSTα/β substrates exhibit rapid, linear, and concentration-driven transport in an OSTα/β-overexpressing cell line. Drugs associated with hepatotoxicity modulate OSTα/β-mediated taurocholate transport. These data suggest that hepatic OSTα/β plays an essential role in patients with cholestasis and may have important clinical implications for bile acid and drug disposition.
Keywords: NASH; basolateral transport; bile acid; cholestasis; drug-induced liver injury.