title: Ah receptor and NF-kappaB interplay on the stage of epigenome.
abstract: The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that belongs to the basic helix-loop-helix/Per-ARNT-Sim (bHLH-PAS) family. Its ligands include many natural and synthetic compounds, some of which, such as polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, are important environmental contaminants. NF-kappaB is a pleiotropic factor that regulates many physiological and pathophysiological processes including the immune and inflammatory responses. In the past decade, accumulating evidence suggests close interactions between AhR and NF-kappaB pathways, and these interactions are potentially important mechanisms for many pathological processes such as the chemical-induced immune dysfunctions, carcinogenesis and alteration of xenobiotic metabolism and disposition. AhR-NF-kappaB interaction has become a mechanistic linchpin linking certain pathological responses induced by environmental insults. Furthermore, the AhR-NF-kappaB interaction provides basis for therapeutic applications of certain AhR ligands to treat human diseases. The effects of AhR-NF-kappaB on the epigenome are an important area that is not well understood. In this review, I highlight current research regarding the AhR-NF-kappaB(RelA) interactions with emphasis on the epigenetic impacts of these interactions on chromatin modifications and transcription elongation control.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Graduate Program of Toxicology, Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4466, USA. ytian@cvm.tamu.edu
authors.forename: Yanan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D020239:Receptor Cross-Talk / Q000502:physiology*; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D016328:NF-kappa B; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1