Aromatic hydrocarbon receptors in the immune system: Review and hypotheses

Abstract

Ah-receptors (AhRs) recognize and bind foreign environmental molecules as well as some target hormones of other nuclear receptors. As ligands activate transcription factors, they transmit the information on the presence of these molecules by binding to the DNA, which in turn activate xenobiotic metabolism genes. Cross talk with other nuclear receptors or some non-nuclear receptors also activates or inhibits endocrine processes. Immune cells have AhRs by which they are activated for physiological (immunity) or non-physiological (allergy and autoimmunity) processes. They can be imprinted by hormonal or pseudo-hormonal (environmental) factors, which could provoke pathological alterations for life (by faulty perinatal hormonal imprinting). The variety and amount of human-made new environmental molecules (endocrine disruptors) are enormously growing, so the importance of AhR functions is also expanding.

Reprogramming of the Immune System by Stress and Faulty Hormonal Imprinting

“…25 Immune cells have aromatic hydrocarbon receptors by which they are activated for physiologic and nonphysiologic processes (allergy, autoimmunity). 65 Stress and inflammation have become a major public health problem and are the main pathogenetic factors in multiple diseases that are often comorbid, including allergies and asthma, eczema and psoriasis, fibromyalgia syndrome, mast cell activation syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, and autism spectrum disorder. 66e73 Neurodevelopment has been studied extensively, especially with respect to abuse, anoxia, nutritional status, and prematurity (low birth weight).…”