The Ah Receptor in Biology and Toxicology - 9780470601822

In the first book to focus on the topic for toxicologists, chemists, biologists, pharmacologists, and others studying biochemistry, physiology, toxicology, and related disciplines, Pohjanvirta (toxicology, U. of Helsinki, Finland) brings together 35 chapters that review a wide range of aspects of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and its role as a toxicant and a factor in biological processes. Focusing on recent findings, biologists and toxicologists from North America, Europe, and Japan describe the history of research on the protein and its role as a ligand-activated transcription factor, as a mediator of xenobiotic toxicities, and as a physiological regulator. They address dioxin response elements and regulation of gene transcription, functional interactions with other receptors, epigenetic mechanisms, toxicity in laboratory animals, immune regulation, effects of dioxins on teeth and bone, adverse health outcomes in humans, toxicological risk assessment, AHR-active compounds in the human diet, structural and functional diversification of AHRs during metazoan evolution, the role of AHR in various body systems and in control of cell cycle and apoptosis, the circadian clock, and other topics. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)