Solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 1B3 (Liver-specific organic anion transporter 2) (LST-2) (OATP1B3) (Organic anion transporter 8) (Organic anion-transporting polypeptide 8) (OATP-8) (Solute carrier family 21 member 8)

Mediates the Na(+)-independent uptake of organic anions (PubMed:15159445, PubMed:17412826, PubMed:10779507). Shows broad substrate specificity, can transport both organic anions such as bile acid taurocholate (cholyltaurine) and conjugated steroids (17-beta-glucuronosyl estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and estrone 3-sulfate), as well as eicosanoid leukotriene C4 (PubMed:15159445, PubMed:17412826, PubMed:10779507, PubMed:12568656). Involved in the clearance of bile acids and organic anions from the liver (PubMed:22232210). Can take up bilirubin glucuronides from plasma into the liver, contributing to the detoxification-enhancing liver-blood shuttling loop (PubMed:22232210). Can transport HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (also known as statins) such as pitavastatin, a clinically important class of hypolipidemic drugs (PubMed:15159445). May play an important role in plasma and tissue distribution of the structurally diverse chemotherapeutic drugs methotrexate and paclitaxel (PubMed:23243220). May also transport antihypertension agents, such as the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor prodrug enalapril, and the highly selective angiotensin II AT1-receptor antagonist valsartan, in the liver (PubMed:16627748, PubMed:16624871). {ECO:0000269|PubMed:10779507, ECO:0000269|PubMed:12568656, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15159445, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16624871, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16627748, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17412826, ECO:0000269|PubMed:22232210, ECO:0000269|PubMed:23243220}.