Activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor dissociates fatty liver from insulin resistance by inducing fibroblast growth factor 21.

ABSTRACT:

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The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), also known as the dioxin receptor, was originally characterized as a xenobiotic receptor that senses xenotoxicants. We investigated the endobiotic and hepatic role of AHR in fatty liver and energy metabolism and identified the endocrine factor that mediates the metabolic function of AHR. Wild-type and liver-specific constitutively activated human AHR transgenic mice were used to investigate the role of AHR in fatty liver and energy homeostasis. Adenovirus expressing short hairpin RNA targeting fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) were used to determine the involvement of FGF21 in the metabolic effect of AHR. We showed that, despite their severe fatty liver, the transgenic mice were protected from diet-induced obesity and type 2 diabete

SUBMITTER: Lu P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4441569 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature