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Review ArticleReview Article

The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in Barrier Organ Physiology, Immunology, and Toxicology

Charlotte Esser and Agneta Rannug
Qiang Ma, ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Pharmacological Reviews April 2015, 67 (2) 259-279; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1124/pr.114.009001
Charlotte Esser
Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany (C.E.); and Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (A.R.)
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Agneta Rannug
Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany (C.E.); and Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (A.R.)
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Qiang Ma
Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany (C.E.); and Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (A.R.)
Roles: ASSOCIATE EDITOR
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Abstract

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is an evolutionarily old transcription factor belonging to the Per-ARNT-Sim–basic helix-loop-helix protein family. AhR translocates into the nucleus upon binding of various small molecules into the pocket of its single-ligand binding domain. AhR binding to both xenobiotic and endogenous ligands results in highly cell-specific transcriptome changes and in changes in cellular functions. We discuss here the role of AhR for immune cells of the barrier organs: skin, gut, and lung. Both adaptive and innate immune cells require AhR signaling at critical checkpoints. We also discuss the current two prevailing views—namely, 1) AhR as a promiscuous sensor for small chemicals and 2) a role for AhR as a balancing factor for cell differentiation and function, which is controlled by levels of endogenous high-affinity ligands. AhR signaling is considered a promising drug and preventive target, particularly for cancer, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases. Therefore, understanding its biology is of great importance.

Footnotes

  • This research was supported by the German Research Foundation [Grants ES103/6 and ES103/5 (to C.E.)] and the Swedish Research Council Formas [Grant 216-2011-1364 (to A.R.)].

  • dx.doi.org/10.1124/pr.114.009001.

  • Copyright © 2015 by The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
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Pharmacological Reviews: 67 (2)
Pharmacological Reviews
Vol. 67, Issue 2
1 Apr 2015
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Review ArticleReview Article

Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in Immunology and Toxicology

Charlotte Esser and Agneta Rannug
Pharmacological Reviews April 1, 2015, 67 (2) 259-279; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1124/pr.114.009001

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Review ArticleReview Article

Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in Immunology and Toxicology

Charlotte Esser and Agneta Rannug
Pharmacological Reviews April 1, 2015, 67 (2) 259-279; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1124/pr.114.009001
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  • Article
    • Abstract
    • I. Introduction
    • II. Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Signaling
    • III. Role of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in the Barrier Immune System
    • IV. The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in Toxicology and Physiology of the Human Skin, Lung, and Gut
    • V. The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor: Promiscuous Sensing of Chemicals or Metabolic Control of the Endogenous High-Affinity Ligand FICZ?
    • VI. Therapeutic Potential of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Ligands
    • VII. Conclusions
    • Acknowledgments
    • Authorship Contributions
    • Footnotes
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