title: Allergic responses and aryl hydrocarbon receptor novel pathway of mast cell activation.
abstract: The activation of the transcription factor aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is modulated by a wide variety of xenobiotics and ligands deriving from products of metabolism. The study of the contribution of AhR to allergic diseases has gained much interest in recent years. Here we discuss the role that environmental factors and metabolic products, particularly acting on AhR-expressing mast cells (MCs), could have in the development of local allergic/atopic response. Thus, this review will cover: a brief overview of the AhR mechanism of action in the immune system; a description of different AhR ligands and their effects to IgE-mediated MC activation in the allergic response, with particular attention to the role of IL-17; a discussion about the potential involvement of AhR in immune tolerance; and a conclusion on human diseases in which direct AhR activation of MC might have a major impact.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, CCSR 3255, 269 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sibilano
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, P.le M. Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Pucillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, Section of Surgical Pathology, University of Udine, P.le S. Maria della Misericordia 15, 33100 Udine, Italy. Electronic address: giorgia.gri@uniud.it.
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gri
mesh_terms: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D018793:Interleukin-13; D020381:Interleukin-17; D015850:Interleukin-6; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; C111235:AHR protein, human; C508600:IL6 protein, human
keywords: Allergy; Aryl hydrocarbon receptor; FICZ; IL-17; Mast cells