Thyroid, Leydig-cells

OATPICI was cloned from human brain. The 712-amino acid protein shares 48% amino acid identity with OATP1A2, and together with its rodent orthologue Oatplcl, it forms the OATPIC subfamily. The protein could be identified in nests of Leydig cells in testis. The mRNA could be detected in numerous brain regions with the exceptions of pons and cerebellum, but the exact subceHular localization of OATP 1C1 in human brain remains to be determined. The substrate specificity of OATPICI seems to be quite narrow compared to other OATPs, and protein displays a noticeably high affinity for thyroxin and thus could be important for thyroid hormone disposition in brain and testis (Table 3.2) [78, 100]. 

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