Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box EHSC, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
Blood Cells Mol Dis. 2010 Apr 15;44(4):199-206. doi: 10.1016/j.bcmd.2010.01.005. Epub 2010 Feb 19.
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a basic helix-loop-helix protein that belongs to the superfamily of environment-sensing PAS (Per-ARNT-Sim) proteins. A large number of ligands have been described to bind AhR and promote its nuclear translocation. In the nucleus, the AhR and its dimerization partner the AhR nuclear translocator (ARNT) form a DNA-binding complex that acts as a transcriptional regulator. Animal and human data suggest that, beyond its mediating responses to xenobiotic and/or unknown endogenous ligands, the AhR has a role, although as yet undefined, in the regulation of cell cycle and inflammation. The AhR also appears to regulate the hematopoietic and immune systems during development and adult life in a cell-specific manner. While accidental exposure to xenobiotic AhR ligands has been associated with leukemia in humans, the specific mechanisms of AhR involvement are still not completely understood. However, recent data are consistent with a functional role of the AhR in the maintenance of hematopoietic stem and/or progenitor cells (HSCs/HPCs). Studies highlighting AhR regulation of HSCs/HPCs provide a rational framework to understand their biology, a role of the AhR in hematopoietic diseases, and a means to develop interventions for these diseases.
芳香烃受体（AhR）是一种基本螺旋-环-螺旋蛋白，属于环境感应 PAS（Per-ARNT-Sim）蛋白超家族。已经描述了大量配体与 AhR 结合并促进其核易位。在细胞核中，AhR 及其二聚化伴侣 AhR 核易位蛋白（ARNT）形成一个 DNA 结合复合物，作为转录调节剂。动物和人类数据表明，除了介导对异源和/或未知内源性配体的反应外，AhR 在细胞周期和炎症的调节中具有作用，尽管其作用尚未完全确定。AhR 似乎还以细胞特异性的方式在发育和成年期调节造血和免疫系统。虽然意外暴露于异源 AhR 配体与人类白血病有关，但 AhR 参与的具体机制仍不完全清楚。然而，最近的数据与 AhR 在维持造血干细胞和/或祖细胞（HSCs/HPCs）中的功能作用一致。强调 AhR 对 HSCs/HPCs 的调节的研究为理解它们的生物学、AhR 在造血疾病中的作用以及为这些疾病开发干预措施提供了合理的框架。
