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Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death
09:18

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death

Published on: December 27, 2016

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor regulates programmed cell death in diseases: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic

Yuanyuan Jiang1, Zhiyuan Qiang2, Like Zhu1

  • 1Translational Medical Innovation Center, Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu, China.

Frontiers in Immunology
|August 12, 2026
PubMed

Insights

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) regulates diverse cell death pathways, impacting disease development. Understanding AHR

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor integrating environmental, dietary, and metabolic signals.
  • AHR plays a critical role in orchestrating complex biological processes and is implicated in various cell death pathways.
  • Originally identified as a toxin sensor, AHR's role extends to endogenous and microbial ligand interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize current knowledge on AHR's structural dynamics, ligand diversity, and activation mechanisms.
  • To highlight AHR's dual roles in programmed cell death (PCD).
  • To discuss the significance of AHR-regulated cell death in human diseases and its therapeutic potential.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on AHR.
  • Analysis of AHR's involvement in apoptosis, necroptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis.
  • Examination of AHR's role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, neurological disorders, respiratory diseases, and cancer.

Main Results:

  • AHR exhibits ligand-specific, cell type-specific, and context-specific transcriptional control.
  • AHR actively participates in the regulation of multiple programmed cell death pathways.
  • AHR signaling is crucial in the pathogenesis of a wide range of human diseases.

Conclusions:

  • AHR is a key regulator of programmed cell death with significant implications in disease.
  • AHR's multifaceted roles in cell death present potential therapeutic strategies for various human conditions.
  • Further research into AHR-regulated cell death mechanisms could unlock novel treatment avenues.
Keywords:
aryl hydrocarbon receptorcancerdisease treatmentinflammationprogrammed cell death

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