The differential role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor in skin cancers induced by environmental carcinogens, including ultraviolet irradiation, arsenic exposure, and HPV infection

The skin functions as the primary barrier organ in humans, safeguarding against environmental insults and challenges. Continuous skin turnover and effective immunosurveillance are critical for maintaining skin homeostasis and preventing the development of skin cancers induced by physical (ultraviole...

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Main Authors: Han-Chi Tseng, Po-Ta Lai, Chih-Hung Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-01-01
Series:Dermatologica Sinica
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ds.DS-D-24-00092
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author Han-Chi Tseng
Po-Ta Lai
Chih-Hung Lee
author_facet Han-Chi Tseng
Po-Ta Lai
Chih-Hung Lee
author_sort Han-Chi Tseng
collection DOAJ
description The skin functions as the primary barrier organ in humans, safeguarding against environmental insults and challenges. Continuous skin turnover and effective immunosurveillance are critical for maintaining skin homeostasis and preventing the development of skin cancers induced by physical (ultraviolet [UV] irradiation), chemical (arsenic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs]), and biological (human papillomavirus [HPV] infection) agents. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ubiquitous cellular environmental sensor that regulates numerous biological processes, including cellular differentiation and immune regulation, key mechanisms in the defense against skin carcinogenesis. Although many studies have elucidated the role of AhR in mediating the biological and immunological effects of UV and PAH in skin carcinogenesis and inflammation, relatively few studies have investigated the involvement of AhR in skin carcinogenesis induced by arsenic and HPV, two well-characterized skin carcinogens distinct from PAH. This review aims to summarize the current evidence regarding the role of AhR in regulating skin carcinogenesis and modulating immunosurveillance or inflammatory responses in the context of skin cancer induced by these exogenous insults.
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spelling doaj-art-0dfaf048f34a4f3e997760e6b0eb6f562025-08-20T03:17:14ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsDermatologica Sinica1027-81172223-330X2025-01-01431364610.4103/ds.DS-D-24-00092The differential role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor in skin cancers induced by environmental carcinogens, including ultraviolet irradiation, arsenic exposure, and HPV infectionHan-Chi TsengPo-Ta LaiChih-Hung LeeThe skin functions as the primary barrier organ in humans, safeguarding against environmental insults and challenges. Continuous skin turnover and effective immunosurveillance are critical for maintaining skin homeostasis and preventing the development of skin cancers induced by physical (ultraviolet [UV] irradiation), chemical (arsenic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs]), and biological (human papillomavirus [HPV] infection) agents. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ubiquitous cellular environmental sensor that regulates numerous biological processes, including cellular differentiation and immune regulation, key mechanisms in the defense against skin carcinogenesis. Although many studies have elucidated the role of AhR in mediating the biological and immunological effects of UV and PAH in skin carcinogenesis and inflammation, relatively few studies have investigated the involvement of AhR in skin carcinogenesis induced by arsenic and HPV, two well-characterized skin carcinogens distinct from PAH. This review aims to summarize the current evidence regarding the role of AhR in regulating skin carcinogenesis and modulating immunosurveillance or inflammatory responses in the context of skin cancer induced by these exogenous insults.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ds.DS-D-24-00092arsenicaryl hydrocarbon receptorhuman papillomatous virusskin cancersquamous cell carcinomaultraviolet irradiation
spellingShingle Han-Chi Tseng
Po-Ta Lai
Chih-Hung Lee
The differential role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor in skin cancers induced by environmental carcinogens, including ultraviolet irradiation, arsenic exposure, and HPV infection
Dermatologica Sinica
arsenic
aryl hydrocarbon receptor
human papillomatous virus
skin cancer
squamous cell carcinoma
ultraviolet irradiation
title The differential role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor in skin cancers induced by environmental carcinogens, including ultraviolet irradiation, arsenic exposure, and HPV infection
title_full The differential role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor in skin cancers induced by environmental carcinogens, including ultraviolet irradiation, arsenic exposure, and HPV infection
title_fullStr The differential role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor in skin cancers induced by environmental carcinogens, including ultraviolet irradiation, arsenic exposure, and HPV infection
title_full_unstemmed The differential role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor in skin cancers induced by environmental carcinogens, including ultraviolet irradiation, arsenic exposure, and HPV infection
title_short The differential role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor in skin cancers induced by environmental carcinogens, including ultraviolet irradiation, arsenic exposure, and HPV infection
title_sort differential role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor in skin cancers induced by environmental carcinogens including ultraviolet irradiation arsenic exposure and hpv infection
topic arsenic
aryl hydrocarbon receptor
human papillomatous virus
skin cancer
squamous cell carcinoma
ultraviolet irradiation
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ds.DS-D-24-00092
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