The role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor in normal and malignant B cell development.
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor historically studied for its role in environmental chemical-mediated toxicity and carcinogenicity. In the last 5 years, however, it has become clear that the AhR, presumably activated by endogenous ligand(s), plays an important role in immune system development and function. Other articles in this edition summarize AhR function during T cell and antigen-presenting cell development and function, including the effects of AhR activation on dendritic cell function, T cell skewing, inflammation, and autoimmune disease. Here, we focus on AhR expression and function during B cell differentiation. Studies exploiting immunosuppressive environmental chemicals to probe the role of the AhR in humoral immunity are also reviewed to illustrate the multiple levels at which a "nominally activated" AhR could control B cell differentiation from the hematopoietic stem cell through the pro-B cell, mature B cell, and antibody-secreting plasma cell stages. Finally, a putative role for the AhR in the basic biology of B cell malignancies, many of which have been associated with exposure to environmental AhR ligands, is discussed.
Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 72 East Concord Street (R-408), Boston, MA, 02118, USA, dsherr@bu.edu.
David H
DH
Sherr
Stefano
S
Monti
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon