Abstract: Organic anion transporters (OATs), members of the solute transporter 22 (SLC22) subfamily, are an important class of uptake transporters with multiple subtypes. OATs mediate the transport of a variety of endogenous substances and play a role in maintaining homeostasis in the body. In addition, many clinical drugs are also substrates for OATs. Studies have shown that some diseases may lead to abnormal changes in the expression and function of OATs, which may affect the efficacy of drugs or lead to disorders of endogenous substances in the body. In this article, the distribution and function of OATs were briefly introduced. In addition, the research progress of changes in the expression and function of OATs and their mechanisms in disease states were reviewed.