Trajectory shifts in interdisciplinary research of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor—a personal perspective on thymus and skin

Abstract

Identifying historical trajectories is a useful exercise in research, as it helps clarify im-portant, perhaps even “paradigmatic”, shifts in thinking and moving forward in science. In this review, the development of research regarding the role of the transcription factor “aryl hydrocarbon receptor” (AHR) as a mediator of the toxicity of environmental pollution towards a link between the environment and a healthy adaptive response of the immune system and the skin is discussed. From this fascinating development, the opportunities for targeting the AHR in the therapy of many diseases become clear.