Interplay between aryl hydrocarbon and estrogen receptor signaling- A possible explanation of endocrine- disrupting and immunomodulatory effects of mycotoxins

Although the endocrine-disrupting (ED) and immunomodulatory effects of mycotoxins are well documented, both in vitro and in vivo, little is known about their detailed molecular mechanisms. Here, we elucidated two known effects of mycotoxins: ED and immunomodulatory, and proposed the possible linker: the interplay between aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and estrogen receptor (ER) signaling pathways. We reviewed in detail the immunomodulatory role of both AhR and ER signaling pathways and suggested their possible interaction, which might result in ED and immunomodulatory effects. This research may serve as a future direction for both mycotoxin and other environmental toxin research, paving the way for comprehensive mechanistic insights that link risk assessment, toxicology, and molecular biology.