Membrane carriers and transporters in kidney physiology and disease

Abstract

The growing information suggests that chronic kidney disease may affect expression and function of membrane carriers and transporters in the kidney. The dysfunction of carriers and transporters entails deficient elimination of uremic solutes as well as xenobiotics (drugs and toxins) with subsequent clinical consequences. The renal carriers and transporters are also targets of drugs used in clinical practice, and intentional drug–drug interactions in the kidney are produced to increase therapeutic efficacy. The understanding of membrane carriers and transporters function in chronic kidney disease is important not only to better characterize drug pharmacokinetics, drug actions in the kidney, or drug–drug interactions but also to define the organ pathophysiology.