Aryl hydrocarbon receptor is required for optimal B-cell proliferation.

ABSTRACT: The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a transcription factor known for mediating xenobiotic toxicity, is expressed in B cells, which are known targets for environmental pollutants. However, it is unclear what the physiological functions of AhR in B cells are. We show here that expression of Ahr in B cells is up-regulated upon B-cell receptor (BCR) engagement and IL-4 treatment. Addition of a natural ligand of AhR, FICZ, induces AhR translocation to the nucleus and transcription of the AhR target gene Cyp1a1, showing that the AhR pathway is functional in B cells. AhR-deficient (Ahr^-/-) B cells proliferate less than AhR-sufficient (Ahr^+/+) cells following in vitro BCR stimulation and in vivo adoptive transfer models confirmed that Ahr^-/- B cells are outcompete

SUBMITTER: Villa M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5210087 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature