SLC22A2 encodes Organic Cation Transporter 2 (OCT2), a member of the solute carrier family 22. OCT2 is a transmembrane protein primarily expressed on the basolateral side of proximal tubule cells in the kidney, where it facilitates uptake of endogenous organic cations and many xenobiotics from blood into renal cells. Genetic variants in SLC22A2, including common and rarer single-nucleotide changes, have been studied in pharmacology and renal physiology. Variation can alter transporter expression or function, influencing renal secretion of substrates and measurable blood or urine levels of drugs and metabolites. These functional differences underlie the gene’s relevance to pharmacogenomic profiling and to interpreting kidney-related contributions to systemic biomarker patterns.

Higher OCT2 activity (or genotypes associated with increased function) may be associated with more rapid renal uptake and secretion of organic cations, potentially lowering circulating levels of some drug substrates and changing renal handling of metabolites. Reduced OCT2 activity (or variants linked to loss of function) may be associated with slower clearance of those substrates, resulting in higher circulating concentrations and altered urinary excretion. Interpretation depends on which substrates are measured and must be considered alongside kidney function tests, medication exposures, and the broader Cardio Zoomer profile.

Cardio Zoomer includes OCT2 variants to give clinicians pharmacogenomic and renal-context information. Knowing variant-associated OCT2 activity helps explain differences in drug and metabolite clearance, refines interpretation of kidney-linked biomarkers, and contributes to a personalized, systems-level view of cardiovascular risk drivers.