PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Francisco J. Quintana
AU  - David H. Sherr
ED  - Insel, Paul A.
TI  - Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Control of Adaptive Immunity
AID  - 10.1124/pr.113.007823
DP  - 2013 Oct 01
TA  - Pharmacological Reviews
PG  - 1148--1161
VI  - 65
IP  - 4
4099  - http://pharmrev.aspetjournals.org/content/65/4/1148.short
4100  - http://pharmrev.aspetjournals.org/content/65/4/1148.full
SO  - Pharmacol Rev2013 Oct 01; 65
AB  - The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that belongs to the family of basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors. Although the AhR was initially recognized as the receptor mediating the pathologic effects of dioxins and other pollutants, the activation of AhR by endogenous and environmental factors has important physiologic effects, including the regulation of the immune response. Thus, the AhR provides a molecular pathway through which environmental factors modulate the immune response in health and disease. In this review, we discuss the role of AhR in the regulation of the immune response, the source and chemical nature of AhR ligands, factors controlling production and degradation of AhR ligands, and the potential to target the AhR for therapeutic immunomodulation.