{"id":27373,"date":"2019-12-27T20:20:59","date_gmt":"2019-12-28T04:20:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/?p=27373"},"modified":"2020-04-10T18:13:44","modified_gmt":"2020-04-11T01:13:44","slug":"aryl-hydrocarbon-receptor-ahr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/aryl-hydrocarbon-receptor-ahr\/","title":{"rendered":"Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) Roles and Functions"},"content":{"rendered":"
Image credit: http:\/\/www.nature.com\/nrc\/journal\/v14\/n12\/full\/nrc3846.html<\/strong><\/h6>\n

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is responsible for supporting cell growth and immune system response to outside threats, especially environmental pollutants. AhRs are necessary for cell differentiation and growth in various organ systems. Keep reading to learn the roles of AhR and factors that activate\/block it.<\/p>\n

What is Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)<\/a> is a ligand-activated transcription factor responsible for controlling the expression of various sets of genes (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Both AhR and its partner, aryl hydrocarbon nuclear translocator, are associated with how an organism responds to environmental contaminants<\/strong>, mostly man-made ones. However, current research has determined different physiological roles that AhRs plays in the absence of contaminants (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The Roles of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

The role of AhR in the human body is complex and not yet fully understood. Most of the findings below stem from animal and cell-based studies. They give us a good idea about the potential roles and functions of AhR, but the results may not always translate to humans.<\/em><\/p>\n

Cardiovascular<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

In fetal mice, AhR development through embryonic stem cells is responsible for coordinating and differentiating heart cells (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

AhR during development is the coordinator for the complex regulatory network responsible for maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Metabolism<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

In both lean and obese mice, AhR receptors are responsible for helping maintain glucose<\/a> homeostasis in the body (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

In mice who have a fatty liver, activated human AhR receptors successfully negated the effects of a fatty liver while maintaining proper energy balance (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

AhRs interact with stem cells to signal for cellular regeneration, in the context of aging and diseases. The receptors specifically target the metabolic efficacy of cell regeneration vs. cell cycling (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Toxin Removal<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

AhRs are responsible for recognizing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, environmental contaminants that can contribute to cancer development. AhRs then signals the body to prevent physiological harm (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

In human cell lines exposed to varying levels of lead, AhRs help prevent the harm (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Immune System<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Lymphocytes<\/strong><\/h4>\n

AhR receptors are responsible for transmitting environmental cues to the lymphocytes, which then trigger the required immune system to regulate the body, maintaining homeostasis (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

In dairy cows bred in a dioxin-contaminated area, AhR gene expression significantly increased to increase the number of circulating lymphocytes to fight the toxin contamination (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

As for patients suffering from tuberculosis, a greater expression of AhRs increased overall innate immune response through the formation of lymphoid cells (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n