title: The aryl hydrocarbon receptor: a molecular pathway for the environmental control of the immune response.
abstract: Environmental factors have significant effects on the development of autoimmune diseases. The ligand-activated transcription factor aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is controlled by endogenous and environmental small molecules. Hence, AHR provides a molecular pathway by which endogenous and environmental signals can influence the immune response and the development of autoimmune diseases. AHR also provides a target for therapeutic intervention in immune-mediated disorders. In this review, we discuss the role of AHR in the regulation of T-cell differentiation and autoimmunity.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. fquintana@rics.bwh.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Quintana
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon