Is aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase induction 'systemically' regulated in man?

We demonstrated recently that, in smokers, placental activity of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) is statistically significantly correlated with cord-blood lymphocyte AHH inducibility, whereas the correlation between maternal lymphocyte AHH inducibility and placental AHH activity is poor. These findings suggest that AHH induction in man may be 'systemically' regulated. In hospital patients, however, correlations among lymphocyte-AHH induction, hepatic mono-oxygenase activities and antipyrine elimination were poor, even in groups with no indication of liver injury. It seems that the 'systemic' regulation of AHH induction in man can be demonstrated only in special, favourable situations.