title: The AhR twist: ligand-dependent AhR signaling and pharmaco-toxicological implications.
abstract: The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a transcription factor which is activated by diverse compounds and regulates the expression of xenobiotic metabolism genes. Recent studies have unraveled unsuspected physiological roles and novel alternative ligand-specific pathways for this receptor. In this review, we discuss these novel aspects and focus on the different responses elicited by the diverse endogenous and/or exogenous AhR ligands. In addition to challenging the relevance of the 'agonist/antagonist' classification of ligands, we introduce the concept of AhR plasticity as a primordial factor in the generation of these pathways. Finally, we suggest several promising perspectives for the pharmacological modulation of these responses.
authors.affiliation: INSERM UMR-S 747, Toxicologie Pharmacologie et Signalisation Cellulaire, 45 rue des Saints Pères, 75006 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Erwan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guyot
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chevallier
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barouki
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Coumoul
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon