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Fig. 4 | Cellular & Molecular Biology Letters

Fig. 4

From: Insight into the physiological and pathological roles of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway in glucose homeostasis, insulin resistance, and diabetes development

Fig. 4

AhR regulates adipocyte differentiation by regulating the PPAR signaling pathway, which plays a vital role in modulating fatty acid oxidation and glucose metabolism. Dioxins, such as TCDD, bind to AhR, inducing receptor activation that evokes many biological and toxicological effects. These environmental toxins bioaccumulate within human and animal adipose tissues, leading to inflammation and subsequently impairing insulin resistance. Furthermore, the formation of AhR–ARNT complexes interferes with the signaling of several pathways. TCDD-induced activation of AhR further causes dysregulation of lipoprotein lipase activity in adipose tissue, regulating adipocyte differentiation and interfering in the PPAR-α signaling pathway critical in fatty acid oxidation and glucose metabolism. Additionally, a TCDD-induced increase in the expression of TNF-α has been shown to exacerbate the dysfunction of insulin signaling and insulin resistance. Created by bioRender.com

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