articleSignal Transduction and Targeted TherapyJan 16, 2026GOLD OA

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor: structure, signaling, physiology and pathology

XCXavier CoumoulRBRobert BaroukiCECharlotte EsserTHThomas Haarmann-StemmannBPB. Paige Lawrence

Inserm · Université Paris Cité · +12 more institutions

PubMed
Indexed incrossrefdoajpubmed

Abstract

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor of the bHLH/PAS protein family. In this review, we explore the multifaceted roles of AHR in both health and disease, tracing its recognition as a xenobiotic sensor and a central regulator of physiological homeostasis. We begin by recounting six decades of discoveries that have shaped our understanding of AHR, from its canonical function in environmental sensing to its critical roles in development, immune regulation, barrier tissue integrity, and host-microbe interactions. We detail recent structural breakthroughs that have illuminated the ligand-binding mechanisms and regulation of AHR, providing key insights into its activation…

Citation impact

20
total citations
FWCI
267.14
Percentile
100%
References
542
Too recent for citation history.

Authors

11

Topics & keywords

Topics
Keywords
  • Aryl hydrocarbon receptor
  • Transcription factor
  • Regulator
  • Xenobiotic
  • Immune system
  • Function (biology)
  • Signal transduction
  • Transcriptional regulation
UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Industry, innovation and infrastructure
No related works found for this paper.

Funding