Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-dependent transcriptional factor widely expressed among immune, epithelial, endothelial and stromal cells in barrier tissues.

While historically studied in the context of chemical pollutants such as dioxin, AhR was more recently revealed as a central sensor of a wider range of environmental cues, such as dietary-derived compounds, ensuring intestinal homeostasis between the host and gut microbiota.

On the one hand, AhR activation by dietary ligands shapes the intestinal bacterial composition. On the other hand, AhR sensing regulates homeostasis and functionality of the gut immune cells.

InvivoGen’s offers a collection of tools to screen for AhR ligands and to study the AhR genomic signaling pathway:

• AhR reporter cell lines
• FICZ, a tryptophan-derived agonist of AhR
• a synthetic AhR antagonist

Read our review on AhR’s key role in the intestinal microbiota and immunity