The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor as a Modulator of Anti-viral Immunity

Front Immunol. 2021 Mar 5:12:624293. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.624293. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor, which interacts with a wide range of organic molecules of endogenous and exogenous origin, including environmental pollutants, tryptophan metabolites, and microbial metabolites. The activation of AHR by these agonists drives its translocation into the nucleus where it controls the expression of a large number of target genes that include the AHR repressor (AHRR), detoxifying monooxygenases (CYP1A1 and CYP1B1), and cytokines. Recent advances reveal that AHR signaling modulates aspects of the intrinsic, innate and adaptive immune response to diverse microorganisms. This review will focus on the increasing evidence supporting a role for AHR as a modulator of the host response to viral infection.

Keywords: DNA viruses; RNA viruses; aryl hydrocarbon receptor; host response; viral infections.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Active Transport, Cell Nucleus
  • Adaptive Immunity*
  • Animals
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate*
  • Ligands
  • Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Virus Diseases / genetics
  • Virus Diseases / immunology
  • Virus Diseases / metabolism
  • Virus Diseases / virology*
  • Viruses / genetics
  • Viruses / immunology*
  • Viruses / pathogenicity

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon