Functions of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor in the skin
Abstract
Among other functions, the skin serves as the barrier against the environment and provides vital protection from physical or chemical harm and from infection. Skin cells express the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a ligand-activated transcription factor and sensor of environmental chemicals; at the same time, AHR ligands are abundant in skin from exogenous or endogenous sources. For example, solar radiation, in particular ultraviolet (UV) B, generates AHR ligands from tryptophan in the skin. Recent evidence has shown that AHR is involved in the (patho)physiology of skin including the regulation of skin pigmentation, photocarcinogenesis, and skin inflammation. We here provide a state-of-the-art summary of work which relates to the role of the AHR in (1) adaptive responses against environmental challenges such as UVB or topical chemicals and (2) intrinsic developmental roles for homeostasis of skin cells and (3) skin immunity. We also discuss the existing evidence that AHR antagonists or AHR ligands may be used for the prevention and/or treatment of skin disease.
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Various external and internal ligands, such as dioxins, polycyclic aromatic pollutants, benzo[a]pyrene, and phytochemicals, can bind to and activate AHR.
“Various external and internal ligands, such as dioxins, polycyclic aromatic pollutants, benzo[a]pyrene, and phytochemicals, can bind to and activate AHR [15,16].”
From Antioxidant Artemisia princeps Extract Enhances the Expression of Filaggrin and Loricrin via the AHR/OVOL1 Pathway (2017) · cites this paper as [15]
AHR is a xenobiotic chemical sensor expressed abundantly in epidermal keratinocytes.
“AHR is a xenobiotic chemical sensor that is expressed abundantly in epidermal keratinocytes [15,16].”
From Antioxidant Artemisia princeps Extract Enhances the Expression of Filaggrin and Loricrin via the AHR/OVOL1 Pathway (2017) · cites this paper as [15]
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- Authors
- Esser, C., Bargen, I., Weighardt, H., Haarmann-Stemmann, T., & Krutmann, J.
- Affiliations
- Leibniz Institute of Environmental Medicine (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Esser, Charlotte
- Venue
- Seminars in Immunopathology
- Published
- 2013-08-16
- Volume
- 35
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 677-691
- ISSN
- 1863-2297 (ISSN-L)
- 1863-2300
- OpenAlex
- W1982704806
- Cited by
- 187
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 7
- FWCI
- 1.17
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Seminars in Immunopathology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Dermatology and Skin Diseases
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Skin Protection and Aging
- Keywords
- aryl hydrocarbon receptor, skin, UV-B radiation, tryptophan metabolism, AhR ligands, skin pigmentation, photocarcinogenesis, skin inflammation, skin immunity, skin homeostasis, AhR antagonists, environmental chemicals, skin disease treatment
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Environmental Exposure, Gene Expression Regulation, Humans, Ligands, Skin, Skin Diseases, Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon
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