Aryl hydrocarbon receptor connects dysregulated immune cells to atherosclerosis

• Published in: Immunology letters Vol. 228; pp. 55 - 63
• Main Authors: Wang, Fengge, Liang, Shuangchao, Hu, Jiqiong, Xu, Yuekang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-12-2020
• Subjects: AHR; Atherosclerosis; Immune cells; ox-LDL; Vascular tissues; VSMCs; XAP2; TCDD; ARNT; ox-LDL; AHR; Vascular tissues; Mac; Hsp90; p23; ECs; DCs; IDO; Atherosclerosis; FICZ; HSCs; Immune cells
• ISSN: 0165-2478; 1879-0542
• DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2020.10.003

•Atherosclerotic plaques contain many immune cells and AHR agonists.•Highly expressed in immune cells, AHR affects their functions via unique signaling.•AHR modulates atherosclerosis risk and can be targeted for therapeutic intervention.
As a chronic inflammatory disease with autoimmune components, atherosclerosis is the major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Recent studies have revealed that the development of atherosclerosis is strongly linked to the functional activities of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a chemical sensor that is also important for the development, maintenance, and function of a variety of immune cells. In this review, we focus on the impact of AHR signaling on the different cell types that are closely related to the atherogenesis, including T cells, B cells, dendritic cells, macrophages, foam cells, and hematopoietic stem cells in the arterial walls, and summarize the latest development on the interplay between this environmental sensor and immune cells in the context of atherosclerosis. Hopefully, elucidation of the role of AHR in atherosclerosis will facilitate the understanding of case variation in disease prevalence and may aid in the development of novel therapies.