The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR or dioxin receptor) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that heterodimerizes with the AhR nuclear translocator (ARNT/HIF-1beta) to form an AhR/ARNT transcription factor complex. This complex binds to specific DNA sites in the regulatory domains of numerous target genes and mediates the biological effects of exogenous ligands. Herein, we have investigate...

Endogenous activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is required for normal vascular development. This biology led us to investigate the interplay between the AHR and vascular physiology by using an in vitro model of fluid shear stress. Using this system, we show that fluid flow induces a robust AHR-mediated increase in CYP1 expression. Furthermore, we demonstrate that incubation with s...

Elucidation of the dimerization process of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) with the AhR nuclear translocator (ARNT) is crucial for understanding the mechanisms underlying the functional activity of AhR, including mediation of the toxicity of environmental contaminants. In this work, for the first time a structural model of the AhR:ARNT dimer encompassing the entire bHLH-PASA-PASB domain reg...

Abstract Th17-cells play a key role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), severe hepatopathy characterized by hypergammaglobulinemia, seropositivity for autoantibodies and interface on histology. Aberrant Th17-cell response AIH is linked to alterations aryl-hydrocarbon-receptor (AHR) signaling. These result inability respond AHR activation. Since can be regulated upon binding aryl-...

1 Division of Endocrinology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2 Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 3 Applied Health Research Centre (AHRC), St. Michael's Hospital University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 4 Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Ministry of Health Guyana, Georgetown, Guyana, 5 Guyana Diabetes and Foot Car...

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) possess great therapeutic advantages due to their ability to produce a diverse array of trophic/growth factors related to cytoprotection and immunoregulation. MSC activation via specific receptors is a crucial event for these cells to exert their immunosuppressive response. The aryl-hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a sensitive molecule for external signals and it i...

Successfully fighting infection requires a properly tuned immune system. Recent epidemiological studies link exposure to pollutants that bind the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) during development with poorer immune responses later in life. Yet, how developmental triggering of AHR durably alters immune cell function remains unknown. Using a mouse model, we show that developmental activation of ...