Transporters of the solute carrier O (SLCO) family, former organic anion-transporting polypeptides, are now recognized as key players in pharmacokinetics. Imaging is increasingly regarded as a relevant method to elucidate and decipher the intrinsic role of SLCO in controlling drug disposition in plasma and tissues. Current research in this representative field of translational research is based on different imaging modalities including nuclear imaging, such as single-photon emission computed tomography or positron emission tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Imaging modalities can be compared in terms of sensitivity, quantitative properties, spatial resolution, variety of ligands, and radiation exposure. All these approaches rely on the use of SLCO substrates that are detected using corresponding modalities. The present review aims at reporting and comparing the imaging probes that have been proposed to study SLCO-transport function, in terms of in vitro specificity, in vivo behavior, and clinical validation.
Keywords: hepatic transport; imaging methods; organic anion-transporting polypeptide transporters; solute transporters.
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