AHR Gene

HGNC Family	Basic helix-loop-helix proteins (BHLH)
Name	aryl hydrocarbon receptor
Description	The protein encoded by this gene is a ligand-activated helix-loop-helix transcription factor involved in the regulation of biological responses to planar aromatic hydrocarbons. This receptor has been shown to regulate xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes such as cytochrome P450. Before ligand binding, the encoded protein is sequestered in the cytoplasm; upon ligand binding, this protein moves to the nucleus and stimulates transcription of target genes. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2015]
Summary	{"type": "root", "children": [{"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) functions as a ligand‐activated transcription factor that is central to cellular responses against both environmental toxins and endogenous signals. In human cells, AhR participates in complex formation with key metabolic enzymes such as pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), the E2 subunit of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC), and the histone acetyltransferase p300. This association facilitates local acetyl–CoA production for histone acetylation at gene enhancers and promotes the transcription of xenobiotic metabolism genes (for example, CYP1A1) in an AhR‐dependent manner."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "1"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " In the placenta, constitutive nuclear localization of AhR in trophoblasts indicates intrinsic activation by endogenous ligands, suggesting a role in normal placental function and fetal development."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "2"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " AhR levels are also subject to post‐transcriptional regulation; for instance, overexpression of miR-375 leads to repression of AhR, which in turn diminishes the expression of its target detoxification enzymes and may affect hepatic glucuronidation of compounds like acetaminophen."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "3"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " In pulmonary epithelial cells, studies indicate that titanium dioxide nanoparticles can preferentially bind to AhR and prevent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (such as benzo[a]pyrene) from interacting with it, thereby reducing toxicant entry into cells."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "4"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " Comparative investigations in non-mammalian species further underscore that structural variations and differential expression of AhR isoforms (for example, avian AhR1 and fish AHR1/AHR2) significantly influence sensitivity to dioxins and related toxicants"}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "5"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": ";"}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "6"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": ";."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "7"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " In addition, in neural cell models, docking studies have revealed that AhR, alongside other nuclear receptors, contributes to the regulation of cytochrome P450 enzymes involved in neurotransmitter synthesis and metabolism."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "8"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " Clinically, altered AhR expression has been observed in cancers such as pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and modulation of the TDO2–kynurenine–AhR signaling axis has been implicated in overcoming cisplatin resistance in lung cancer by reducing genomic instability"}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "9"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": ";."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "10"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n "}]}, {"type": "rg", "children": [{"type": "r", "ref": 1, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Shun Matsuda, Jun Adachi, Masaru Ihara, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Nuclear pyruvate kinase M2 complex serves as a transcriptional coactivator of arylhydrocarbon receptor."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Nucleic Acids Res (2016)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1093/nar/gkv967"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkv967"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "26405201"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26405201"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 2, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Anaïs Wakx, Margaux Nedder, Céline Tomkiewicz-Raulet, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Expression, Localization, and Activity of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in the Human Placenta."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Int J Mol Sci (2018)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.3390/ijms19123762"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19123762"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "30486367"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30486367"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 3, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Ioannis Papageorgiou, Marina Freytsis, Michael H Court "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Transcriptome association analysis identifies miR-375 as a major determinant of variable acetaminophen glucuronidation by human liver."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Biochem Pharmacol (2016)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1016/j.bcp.2016.08.014"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcp.2016.08.014"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "27531059"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27531059"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 4, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Anupam Dhasmana, Qazi Mohd Sajid Jamal, Snober Shabnam Mir, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Titanium dioxide nanoparticles as guardian against environmental carcinogen benzo[alpha]pyrene."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "PLoS One (2014)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1371/journal.pone.0107068"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0107068"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "25215666"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25215666"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 5, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Nozomi Fujisawa, Yusuke K Kawai, Shouta M M Nakayama, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Dioxin sensitivity-related two critical amino acids of arylhydrocarbon receptor may not correlate with the taxonomy or phylogeny in avian species."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "J Vet Med Sci (2013)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1292/jvms.13-0179"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.13-0179"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "23912877"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23912877"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 6, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Nirmal K Roy, Allison Candelmo, Melissa DellaTorre, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Characterization of AHR2 and CYP1A expression in Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose sturgeon treated with coplanar PCBs and TCDD."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Aquat Toxicol (2018)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1016/j.aquatox.2018.01.017"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2018.01.017"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "29427830"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29427830"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 7, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Nirmal K Roy, Melissa DellaTorre, Allison Candelmo, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Characterization of AHR1 and its functional activity in Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose sturgeon."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Aquat Toxicol (2018)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1016/j.aquatox.2018.09.014"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2018.09.014"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "30312899"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30312899"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 8, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Vinay K Tripathi, Vivek Kumar, Abhishek K Singh, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Monocrotophos induces the expression and activity of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes in pre-sensitized cultured human brain cells."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "PLoS One (2014)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1371/journal.pone.0091946"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0091946"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "24663500"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24663500"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 9, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Sahar Masoudi, Amin Hassanzadeh Nemati, Hamid Reza Fazli, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "An Increased Level of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Middle East J Dig Dis (2019)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.15171/mejdd.2018.126"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.15171/mejdd.2018.126"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "31049181"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31049181"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 10, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Feihong Chen, Gang Xu, Wenyuan Tian, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Breakdown of chemo-immune resistance by a TDO2-targeted Pt(IV) prodrug via attenuating endogenous Kyn-AhR-AQP4 metabolic circuity and TLS-promoted genomic instability."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Biochem Pharmacol (2021)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114785"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114785"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "34562469"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34562469"}]}]}]}
Synonyms	BHLHE76
Proteins	AHR_HUMAN
NCBI Gene ID	196
API
Download Associations
Predicted Functions
Co-expressed Genes
Expression in Tissues and Cell Lines

Functional Associations

AHR has 15,793 functional associations with biological entities spanning 9 categories (molecular profile, organism, functional term, phrase or reference, chemical, disease, phenotype or trait, structural feature, cell line, cell type or tissue, gene, protein or microRNA, sequence feature) extracted from 132 datasets.

Click the + buttons to view associations for AHR from the datasets below.

If available, associations are ranked by standardized value

Harmonizome 3.0

AHR Gene

Functional Associations

Please acknowledge the Harmonizome in your publications by citing the following reference(s):

	Dataset	Summary
	Achilles Cell Line Gene Essentiality Profiles	cell lines with fitness changed by AHR gene knockdown relative to other cell lines from the Achilles Cell Line Gene Essentiality Profiles dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Adult Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles	tissues with high or low expression of AHR gene relative to other tissues from the Allen Brain Atlas Adult Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Adult Mouse Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles	tissues with high or low expression of AHR gene relative to other tissues from the Allen Brain Atlas Adult Mouse Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Aging Dementia and Traumatic Brain Injury Tissue Sample Gene Expression Profiles	tissue samples with high or low expression of AHR gene relative to other tissue samples from the Allen Brain Atlas Aging Dementia and Traumatic Brain Injury Tissue Sample Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Developing Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles by Microarray	tissue samples with high or low expression of AHR gene relative to other tissue samples from the Allen Brain Atlas Developing Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles by Microarray dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Developing Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles by RNA-seq	tissue samples with high or low expression of AHR gene relative to other tissue samples from the Allen Brain Atlas Developing Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles by RNA-seq dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Prenatal Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles	tissues with high or low expression of AHR gene relative to other tissues from the Allen Brain Atlas Prenatal Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	Biocarta Pathways	pathways involving AHR protein from the Biocarta Pathways dataset.
	BioGPS Cell Line Gene Expression Profiles	cell lines with high or low expression of AHR gene relative to other cell lines from the BioGPS Cell Line Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	BioGPS Human Cell Type and Tissue Gene Expression Profiles	cell types and tissues with high or low expression of AHR gene relative to other cell types and tissues from the BioGPS Human Cell Type and Tissue Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	BioGPS Mouse Cell Type and Tissue Gene Expression Profiles	cell types and tissues with high or low expression of AHR gene relative to other cell types and tissues from the BioGPS Mouse Cell Type and Tissue Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	Carcinogenome Chemical Perturbation Carcinogenicity Signatures	small molecule perturbations changing expression of AHR gene from the Carcinogenome Chemical Perturbation Carcinogenicity Signatures dataset.
	CCLE Cell Line Gene CNV Profiles	cell lines with high or low copy number of AHR gene relative to other cell lines from the CCLE Cell Line Gene CNV Profiles dataset.
	CCLE Cell Line Gene Expression Profiles	cell lines with high or low expression of AHR gene relative to other cell lines from the CCLE Cell Line Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	CCLE Cell Line Proteomics	Cell lines associated with AHR protein from the CCLE Cell Line Proteomics dataset.
	CellMarker Gene-Cell Type Associations	cell types associated with AHR gene from the CellMarker Gene-Cell Type Associations dataset.
	ChEA Transcription Factor Binding Site Profiles	transcription factor binding site profiles with transcription factor binding evidence at the promoter of AHR gene from the CHEA Transcription Factor Binding Site Profiles dataset.
	ChEA Transcription Factor Targets	transcription factors binding the promoter of AHR gene in low- or high-throughput transcription factor functional studies from the CHEA Transcription Factor Targets dataset.
	ChEA Transcription Factor Targets 2022	transcription factors binding the promoter of AHR gene in low- or high-throughput transcription factor functional studies from the CHEA Transcription Factor Targets 2022 dataset.
	ClinVar Gene-Phenotype Associations 2025	phenotypes associated with AHR gene from the curated ClinVar Gene-Phenotype Associations 2025 dataset.
	CMAP Signatures of Differentially Expressed Genes for Small Molecules	small molecule perturbations changing expression of AHR gene from the CMAP Signatures of Differentially Expressed Genes for Small Molecules dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Curated Protein Localization Evidence Scores	cellular components containing AHR protein from the COMPARTMENTS Curated Protein Localization Evidence Scores dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Curated Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025	cellular components containing AHR protein from the COMPARTMENTS Curated Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Experimental Protein Localization Evidence Scores	cellular components containing AHR protein in low- or high-throughput protein localization assays from the COMPARTMENTS Experimental Protein Localization Evidence Scores dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Experimental Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025	cellular components containing AHR protein in low- or high-throughput protein localization assays from the COMPARTMENTS Experimental Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Text-mining Protein Localization Evidence Scores	cellular components co-occuring with AHR protein in abstracts of biomedical publications from the COMPARTMENTS Text-mining Protein Localization Evidence Scores dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Text-mining Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025	cellular components co-occuring with AHR protein in abstracts of biomedical publications from the COMPARTMENTS Text-mining Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	CORUM Protein Complexes	protein complexs containing AHR protein from the CORUM Protein Complexes dataset.
	COSMIC Cell Line Gene CNV Profiles	cell lines with high or low copy number of AHR gene relative to other cell lines from the COSMIC Cell Line Gene CNV Profiles dataset.
	COSMIC Cell Line Gene Mutation Profiles	cell lines with AHR gene mutations from the COSMIC Cell Line Gene Mutation Profiles dataset.
	CTD Gene-Chemical Interactions	chemicals interacting with AHR gene/protein from the curated CTD Gene-Chemical Interactions dataset.
	CTD Gene-Disease Associations	diseases associated with AHR gene/protein from the curated CTD Gene-Disease Associations dataset.
	DeepCoverMOA Drug Mechanisms of Action	small molecule perturbations with high or low expression of AHR protein relative to other small molecule perturbations from the DeepCoverMOA Drug Mechanisms of Action dataset.
	DepMap CRISPR Gene Dependency	cell lines with fitness changed by AHR gene knockdown relative to other cell lines from the DepMap CRISPR Gene Dependency dataset.
	DISEASES Curated Gene-Disease Association Evidence Scores 2025	diseases involving AHR gene from the DISEASES Curated Gene-Disease Association Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	DISEASES Experimental Gene-Disease Association Evidence Scores	diseases associated with AHR gene in GWAS datasets from the DISEASES Experimental Gene-Disease Assocation Evidence Scores dataset.
	DISEASES Experimental Gene-Disease Association Evidence Scores 2025	diseases associated with AHR gene in GWAS datasets from the DISEASES Experimental Gene-Disease Assocation Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	DISEASES Text-mining Gene-Disease Association Evidence Scores	diseases co-occuring with AHR gene in abstracts of biomedical publications from the DISEASES Text-mining Gene-Disease Assocation Evidence Scores dataset.
	DISEASES Text-mining Gene-Disease Association Evidence Scores 2025	diseases co-occuring with AHR gene in abstracts of biomedical publications from the DISEASES Text-mining Gene-Disease Assocation Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	DisGeNET Gene-Disease Associations	diseases associated with AHR gene in GWAS and other genetic association datasets from the DisGeNET Gene-Disease Associations dataset.