Adaptation of the human aryl hydrocarbon receptor to sense microbiota-derived indoles
Troy D Hubbard, Iain A Murray, William H Bisson, Tejas S Lahoti, Krishne Gowda, Shantu G Amin, Andrew D Patterson, Gary H Perdew, Troy D Hubbard, Iain A Murray, William H Bisson, Tejas S Lahoti, Krishne Gowda, Shantu G Amin, Andrew D Patterson, Gary H Perdew
Abstract
Ligand activation of the aryl hydrocarbon (AHR) has profound effects upon the immunological status of the gastrointestinal tract, establishing and maintaining signaling networks, which facilitate host-microbe homeostasis at the mucosal interface. However, the identity of the ligand(s) responsible for such AHR-mediated activation within the gut remains to be firmly established. Here, we combine in vitro ligand binding, quantitative gene expression, protein-DNA interaction and ligand structure activity analyses together with in silico modeling of the AHR ligand binding domain to identify indole, a microbial tryptophan metabolite, as a human-AHR selective agonist. Human AHR, acting as a host indole receptor may exhibit a unique bimolecular (2:1) binding stoichiometry not observed with typical AHR ligands. Such bimolecular indole-mediated activation of the human AHR within the gastrointestinal tract may provide a foundation for inter-kingdom signaling between the enteric microflora and the immune system to promote commensalism within the gut.
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References
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