About this Research Topic
Historically studied for its relationship to environmental chemical-induced activity, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is now well established as a regulator of many biological functions including, but not limited to embryonic development, apoptosis, lipid metabolism, neuronal plasticity, and skin and gut barrier integrity. Three areas of study in particular, i.e., the AhR’s role in driving carcinogenesis, the AhR’s role in suppressing cancer immunity, and the AhR’s role in autoimmunity, have highlighted the many translational opportunities that would be presented by a better understanding of AhR signaling in cancer and autoimmunity. Therefore, this current special issue of Frontiers in Immunology will focus on how the AhR drives malignant transformation and on what could be viewed as mirror images of AhR-mediated immune outcomes, i.e., hypo-AhR signaling in autoimmunity and hyper-AhR signaling in cancer.
Although an association between the AhR and disease is fairly well established, the myriad of signaling mechanisms that the AhR uses to effect these diseases are not completely mapped out. Here, we hope to collect manuscripts with data relevant to the AhR’s contribution to two general areas of disease, cancer and autoimmunity, in order to better understand aberrant AhR signaling pathways with the hope of advancing efforts for treating cancer and autoimmunity.
Manuscripts submitted to this Research Topic should address the following themes:
• AhR signaling pathways in pre-malignant or malignant cells that lead to cancer formation or progression
• AhR signaling pathways in malignant and immune cells that that lead to immune suppression in cancer, with specific emphasis on immune checkpoints
• Evidence from earlier immunotoxicology studies that were harbingers of contemporary studies on the contribution of the AhR to cancer or autoimmunity
• Defective or insufficient AhR signaling in autoimmunity
• Therapeutic approaches that could be taken to modulate AhR activity in cancer and autoimmunity
(Topic Editor David Sherr is founder and Chief Scientific Officer of company Hercules Pharmaceuticals, Inc. which licenses AHR inhibitors. Topic Editor Francisco Quintana is co-founder of AntolRx, which develops therapies for autoimmune diseases. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.)
Although an association between the AhR and disease is fairly well established, the myriad of signaling mechanisms that the AhR uses to effect these diseases are not completely mapped out. Here, we hope to collect manuscripts with data relevant to the AhR’s contribution to two general areas of disease, cancer and autoimmunity, in order to better understand aberrant AhR signaling pathways with the hope of advancing efforts for treating cancer and autoimmunity.
Manuscripts submitted to this Research Topic should address the following themes:
• AhR signaling pathways in pre-malignant or malignant cells that lead to cancer formation or progression
• AhR signaling pathways in malignant and immune cells that that lead to immune suppression in cancer, with specific emphasis on immune checkpoints
• Evidence from earlier immunotoxicology studies that were harbingers of contemporary studies on the contribution of the AhR to cancer or autoimmunity
• Defective or insufficient AhR signaling in autoimmunity
• Therapeutic approaches that could be taken to modulate AhR activity in cancer and autoimmunity
(Topic Editor David Sherr is founder and Chief Scientific Officer of company Hercules Pharmaceuticals, Inc. which licenses AHR inhibitors. Topic Editor Francisco Quintana is co-founder of AntolRx, which develops therapies for autoimmune diseases. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.)
Keywords: Aryl hydrocarbon receptor, Endogenous AhR Ligands, Cancer, Autoimmunity, Immune Checkpoints, Regulatory macrophages, Regulatory T cells
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
