Role of Transporters in Hyperuricemia

Abstract

Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a metabolic disorder characterized by elevated serum uric acid levels exceeding the body’s metabolic limit. In the past two decades, the prevalence of this disease has shown an increasing trend and is becoming more common in younger individuals. As a metabolic disease, hyperuricemia has been found to correlate with cardiovascular diseases, renal diseases, and metabolic syndrome. Various complex metabolic processes are involved in the pathological process in the elevation of uric acid. Transporters are one of the most important families controlling the metabolism of uric acid. The vast majority of cases of hyperuricemia are caused by insufficient uric acid excretion and excessive reabsorption by the kidneys. Therefore, limiting the reabsorption of transport proteins is key to lowering uric acid levels. This chapter will revisit the basic situation of hyperuricemia and summarize the known mechanisms of transport proteins in HUA, as well as the therapeutic approaches developed for these transport proteins.