An introduction to the molecular basics of aryl hydrocarbon receptor biology
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Josef Abel
Abstract
Depending on their chemical structure and properties, environmental chemicals and other xenobiotics that enter the cell can affect cellular function by either nonselective binding to cellular macromolecules or by interference with cellular receptors, which would initiate a more defined cell biological response. One of these intracellular chemosensor molecules is the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a transcription factor of the bHLH/PAS family that is known to mediate the biochemical and toxic effects of dioxins, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and related compounds. Numerous investigations have revealed that the AhR is not only a master regulator of drug metabolism activated by anthropogenic chemicals, but is also triggered by natural and endogenous ligands and can influence cell biological endpoints such as growth and differentiation. Cutting-edge research has identified new intriguing functions of the AhR, such as during proteasomal degradation of steroid hormone receptors, the cellular UVB stress response and the differentiation of certain T-cell subsets. In this review we provide both a survey of the fundamental basics of AhR biology and an insight into new functional aspects of AhR signaling to further stimulate research on this intriguing transcription factor at the interface between toxicology, cell biology and immunology.
©2010 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Guest Editorial
- Highlight: Xenobiotics and Cell Signaling
- Reviews
- An introduction to the molecular basics of aryl hydrocarbon receptor biology
- Mechanisms and cell signaling in alcoholic liver disease
- Superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide-induced signaling and damage in angiotensin II and aldosterone action
- Breakdown products of neoglucobrassicin inhibit activation of Nrf2 target genes mediated by myrosinase-derived glucoraphanin hydrolysis products
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- Zonation of heme synthesis enzymes in mouse liver and their regulation by β-catenin and Ha-ras
- The C2-streptavidin delivery system promotes the uptake of biotinylated molecules in macrophages and T-leukemia cells
- Short Communications
- c-Src-mediated activation of Erk1/2 is a reaction of epithelial cells to carbon nanoparticle treatment and may be a target for a molecular preventive strategy
- Loss of gap junctional intercellular communication in rat lung epithelial cells exposed to carbon or silica-based nanoparticles
- Review
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Artikel in diesem Heft
- Guest Editorial
- Highlight: Xenobiotics and Cell Signaling
- Reviews
- An introduction to the molecular basics of aryl hydrocarbon receptor biology
- Mechanisms and cell signaling in alcoholic liver disease
- Superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide-induced signaling and damage in angiotensin II and aldosterone action
- Breakdown products of neoglucobrassicin inhibit activation of Nrf2 target genes mediated by myrosinase-derived glucoraphanin hydrolysis products
- Cadmium ions promote monocytic differentiation of human leukemia HL-60 cells treated with 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3
- Zonation of heme synthesis enzymes in mouse liver and their regulation by β-catenin and Ha-ras
- The C2-streptavidin delivery system promotes the uptake of biotinylated molecules in macrophages and T-leukemia cells
- Short Communications
- c-Src-mediated activation of Erk1/2 is a reaction of epithelial cells to carbon nanoparticle treatment and may be a target for a molecular preventive strategy
- Loss of gap junctional intercellular communication in rat lung epithelial cells exposed to carbon or silica-based nanoparticles
- Review
- Lipoprotein receptors – an evolutionarily ancient multifunctional receptor family
