Role of Mammalian ABC Transporters in the Transport of Toxic Heavy Metals

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters constitute a large family of ATP-dependent membrane proteins that play a central role in cellular homeostasis by mediating the efflux of endogenous metabolites and xenobiotics. Increasing evidence indicates that these transporters are critical for cellular handling, detoxification, and tissue distribution of toxic heavy metals, including arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg). These metals are pervasive environmental contaminants arising from both natural processes and anthropogenic activities and pose significant risks to human health. This review summarizes recent mammalian studies describing the involvement of ABC transporters in the transport of As, Cd, Hg, and Pb. Collectively, these findings highlight ABC transporters as critical modulators of heavy metal toxicity. Genetic variability, tissue-specific expression, and substrate specificity of these transporters likely contribute to interindividual differences in metal susceptibility, emphasizing their relevance for toxicological risk assessment.