Molecular interactions of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and its biological and toxicological relevance for reproduction.
The dioxin/aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor responsive to both natural and man-made environmental compounds. AhR and its nuclear partner ARNT are expressed in the female reproductive tract in a variety of species and several indications suggest that the AhR might play a pivotal role in the physiology of reproduction. Furthermore, it appears to be the mediator of most, if not all, the adverse effects on reproduction of a group of highly potent environmental pollutants collectively called aryl hydrocarbons (AHs), including the highly toxic compound 2,3,7,8-tetrachlor-odibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Although a large body of recent literature has implicated AhR in multiple signal transduction pathways, the mechanisms of action resulting in a wide spectrum of effects on female reproduction are largely unknown. Here we summarize the major types of molecular cross-talks that have been identified for the AhR and linked cell signaling pathways and that are relevant for the understanding of the role of this transcription factor in female reproduction.
Pocar
P
P
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Grosse Steinstrasse 52, D-06097, Halle (Saale), Germany. paola.pocar@medizin.uni-halle.de
Fischer
B
B
Klonisch
T
T
Hombach-Klonisch
S
S
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D004147:Dioxins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D016678:Genome; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D023421:Models, Animal; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*
D004147:Dioxins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen