Figure 5.

Activation of AhR induces RelB and stimulates the maturation of DC. The AhR, also known as dioxin receptor, is expressed at high levels in DCs. Addition of an AhR agonist such as TCDD affects the normal DC differentiation of bone marrow cells. This abnormal differentiation has at least three main effects: induction and accumulation of RelB in the nucleus, increased production of MDCs and induction of IDO1 and IDO2 associated with expression of CCR6 in immature and MDCs, respectively. Together with a decreased production of DC-CK1 and increased expression of SRA1, activation of AhR by TCDD in DC might result in the induction of tolerance.