Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin, 1656 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
Differentiation. 2011 Nov-Dec;82(4-5):211-9. doi: 10.1016/j.diff.2011.05.011.
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is an evolutionarily conserved ligand activated transcription factor best known for its role in mediating toxic responses to dioxin-like environmental contaminants. However, AHR signaling has also emerged as an active participant in processes of normal development and disease progression. Here, we review the role of AHR signaling in prostate development and disease processes, with a particular emphasis on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Inappropriate AHR activation has recently been associated with a decreased risk of symptomatic BPH in humans and has been shown to impair prostate development and disrupt endocrine signaling in rodents. We highlight known physiological responses to AHR activation in prostate and other tissues and discuss potential mechanisms by which it may act in adult human prostate to protect against symptomatic BPH.
芳香烃受体 (AHR) 是一种进化上保守的配体激活转录因子，其最著名的作用是介导二恶英样环境污染物的毒性反应。然而，AHR 信号也已成为正常发育和疾病进展过程中的积极参与者。在这里，我们回顾了 AHR 信号在前列腺发育和疾病过程中的作用，特别强调了良性前列腺增生 (BPH)。最近的研究表明，AHR 的异常激活与人类 BPH 症状风险降低有关，并已被证明会损害前列腺发育并扰乱啮齿动物的内分泌信号。我们强调了前列腺和其他组织中已知的 AHR 激活的生理反应，并讨论了它在保护人类前列腺免受 BPH 症状方面可能在成人前列腺中发挥作用的潜在机制。
