Molecular mechanisms of the physiological functions of the aryl hydrocarbon (dioxin) receptor, a multifunctional regulator that senses and responds to environmental stimuli.
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) was originally identified as a ligand-activated transcription factor that is involved in the induction of xenobiotic-metabolizing Cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1). For several decades, AhR has been studied in relation to toxicology and pharmacology. With recent discoveries on novel AhR functions, AhR research has expanded into multiple aspects of physiology, such as reproduction, innate immunity and tumor suppression. In this review, we summarize and discuss recent progress in mechanistic and functional studies on AhR with particular emphasis on physiological processes.
Fujii-Kuriyama
Yoshiaki
Y
Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Tokyo, 5-18-7 Honkomagame, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. y.k_fujii@nifty.com
Kawajiri
Kaname
K
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012098:Reproduction; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000378:metabolism; D054875:Ubiquitination
D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases