To analyze the cell distribution and expression abundance of uric acid transporters in kidney by single cell sequencing, microproteomics, and immunohistochemical data.

The cell localization and expression abundances of 12 uric acid transporter genes were analyzed by single cell sequencing data sets (GSE131685) of 2 healthy adult kidneys. Furtherly, laser microdissection combined with mass spectrometry was used to detect the localization and abundance of 12 proteins in the protein data set of 14 segments of rat renal tubules. Finally, the immunohistochemical staining results of the above proteins in the kidney were retrieved in the ProteinAtlas database.

In the single-cell sequencing dataset GSE131685, 12 uric acid transporters were concentratedly expressed in proximal tubule cells. In the KIT dataset, except for uric acid transporters of ABCG2、SLC22A12, and SLC22A13, the rest uric acid transporters were concentratedly expressed in proximal tubular cells of S1, S2, and S3 segments. The analysis results of the KEAT protein dataset were similar to those of the KIT dataset: uric acid transporters of ABCG2, SLC17A3, SLC22A12, SLC22A6, and SLC22A8 were significantly expressed in proximal tubule cells of S1, S2, and S3 segments, while uric acid transporter of SLC22A6 was especially enriched in the renal tubule cells of S2 segment, and uric acid transporter of ABCG2 was strongly enriched in the proximal tubule cells of S3 segment. The other proteins showed relatively lower abundance and specificity. Immunohistochemical data of the ProteinAtlas showed results significantly different from those of the single-cell sequencing and proteome: uric acid transporters of ABCC2, SLC17A4, SLC22A6, SLC22A11, SLC22A12, SLC22A13, and SLC2A9 showed a specific localization in proximal tubules, among which the uric acid transporters of ABCC2, SLC22A6, SLC22A11, and SLC22A13 has stronger abundance, while ABCC4, ABCG2, and SLC16A9 showed relatively lower expression abundance and specificity.

Uric acid transporters were mainly expressed in the renal tubule cells of S1, S2, and S3 segments. The results of proteome data and single-cell sequencing data were similar. The microproteomics of single-cell sequencing and laser capture microdissection is an effective tool to study precise localization of proteins. This study provided a basis for future research on the function of uric acid transporters and the development of uric acid-lowering drugs.