The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-dependent member of the PAS-bHLH-family of nuclear receptors. Anthropogenic ligands include environmental contaminants such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Over-activation of the AHR causes thymus atrophy and immunosuppression. Signaling via the AHR changes the thymocyte differentiation program at several checkpoints, in particular within the CD4-CD8- double-negative (DN) thymocyte subset. Here, we show that AHR over-activation led to the preferential emigration of DN thymocytes to the periphery and accumulation in the spleen. Some of these recent thymic emigrants (RTE) had a novel "activated immature" phenotype (CD3-TCRbeta-CD25+/intCD44-CD45RB+/intCD62L+CD69- cells). Gene expression profiling of DN RTE revealed 15 genes that were up-regulated more than threefold by TCDD, including the S100A9 gene. Exposure of S100A9 null mice to TCDD showed a role for this protein in AHR-mediated thymic egress.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eji.200425641 | DOI Listing |
NPJ Vaccines
January 2025
Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Natural killer (NK) cell-driven effector mechanisms, such as antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, emerged as a secondary correlate of protection in the RV144 HIV vaccine clinical trial, the only vaccine thus far demonstrating some efficacy in human trials. Therefore, leveraging NK cells with enhanced cytotoxic effector responses may bolster vaccine-induced protection against HIV. Here, we investigated the effect of orally administering indole-3-carbinol (I3C), an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) agonist, as an adjuvant to an RV144-like vaccine platform in a mouse model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFree Radic Biol Med
January 2025
Korea Mouse Phenotyping Center, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Laboratory of Developmental Biology and Genomics, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, and BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Interdisciplinary Program for Bioinformatics, Program for Cancer Biology and BIO-MAX/N-Bio Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), poses a significant threat to global public health. Despite reports of liver injury during viral disease, the occurrence and detailed mechanisms underlying the development of secondary exogenous liver injury, particularly in relation to changes in metabolic enzymes, remain to be fully elucidated. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying SARS-CoV-2-induced molecular alterations in hepatic metabolism and the consequent secondary liver injury resulting from alcohol exposure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExp Neurol
January 2025
Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Neuroinjury Diseases, Wuxi, School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; MOE Medical Basic Research Innovation Center for Gut Microbiota and Chronic Diseases, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China. Electronic address:
Abnormal tryptophan metabolism is closely linked with neurological disorders. Research has shown that indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO-1), the first rate-limiting enzyme in tryptophan degradation, is upregulated in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the precise role of IDO-1 in PD pathogenesis remains elusive.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCells
January 2025
Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates.
The Kynurenine pathway is crucial in metabolizing dietary tryptophan into bioactive compounds known as kynurenines, which have been linked to glucose homeostasis. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) has recently emerged as the endogenous receptor for the kynurenine metabolite, kynurenic acid (KYNA). However, the specific role of AhR in pancreatic β-cells remains largely unexplored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCell Host Microbe
January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; Institute of Advanced Clinical Medicine, Peking University, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology (Peking University Third Hospital), Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China. Electronic address:
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 6%-10% of women of reproductive age and is known to be associated with disruptions in the gut bacteria. However, the role of the gut mycobiota in PCOS pathology remains unclear. Using culture-dependent and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2)-sequencing methods, we discovered an enrichment of the gut-colonizable fungus Aspergillus tubingensis in 226 individuals, with or without PCOS, from 3 different geographical areas within China.
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