Expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor and aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocators in human adenoid tissue.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and AhR nuclear translocators (ARNTs) are expressed in human adenoid tissue.

Methods: Paraffin-embedded human adenoid tissue specimens were obtained from eight children with adenoid hypertrophy. Sections were stained immunohistochemically with specific polyclonal antibodies to evaluate the expression pattern of AhR, ARNT1 and ARNT2 were evaluated.

Results: AhR-immunoreactivity was ubiquitously seen in human adenoid tissue such as the epithelium, subepithelial layer, germinal center, mantle zone and interfollicular area. ARNT1 was also widely expressed in the same regions as AhR. Although ARNT2 was expressed in the human adenoid, the expression level was significantly lower than that of ARNT1.

Conclusion: These data suggest that the relationship between AhR and ARNTs may play an important role in the local immune response in adenoid and that ARNT1 may be more important than ARNT2 especially in adenoid tissue.