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Summary Mammalian embryogenesis is a complex process controlled by transcription factors that regulate the balance between pluripotency and differentiation. Transcription factor aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) regulates OCT4/POU5F1 and NANOG, both essential controllers of pluripotency, stemness and early embryo development. Molecular mechanisms controlling OCT4/POU5F1 and NANOG during embryogenesis remain unidentified. We show that AhR regulates pluripotency factors and maintains the metabolic activity required for proper embryo differentiation. AhR-lacking embryos (AhR−/−) showed a pluripotent phenotype characterized by a delayed expression of trophectoderm differentiation markers. Accordingly, central pluripotency factors OCT4/POU5F1 and NANOG were overexpressed in AhR−/− embryos at initial developmental stages. An altered intracellular localization of these factors was observed in the absence of AhR and, importantly, Oct4 had an opposite expression pattern with respect to AhR from the two-cell stage to blastocyst, suggesting a negative regulation of OCT4/POU5F by AhR. We propose that AhR is a regulator of pluripotency and differentiation in early mouse embryogenesis., Highlights • AhR regulates pluripotency factors OCT4 and NANOG during early embryo differentiation • AhR lacking embryos (AhR−/−) show a pluripotent phenotype • Pluripotent phenotype of AhR−/− embryos show enhanced glycolytic metabolism, In this article, Fernández-Salguero and colleagues show that transcription factor AhR regulates pluripotency factors and maintains the metabolic activity required for proper embryo differentiation. AhR-lacking embryos (AhR−/−) showed a pluripotent phenotype characterized by a delayed expression of trophectoderm differentiation markers. Accordingly, central pluripotency factors were overexpressed in AhR−/− embryos at initial developmental stages.

The liver is among the few organs having the ability to self-regenerate in response to a severe damage compromising its functionality. The Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr) is a transcription factor relevant for the detoxification of xenobiotics but also largely important for liver development and homeostasis. Hence, liver cell differentiation is developmentally modulated by Ahr through the controlled expression of pluripotency and stemness-inducing genes. Here, 2/3 partial hepatectomy (PH) was used as a clinically relevant approach to induce liver regeneration in Ahr-expressing (Ahr+/+) and Ahr-null (Ahr−/−) mice. Ahr expression and activity were early induced after 2/3 PH to be gradually downmodulated latter during regeneration. Ahr−/− mice triggered liver regeneration much faster than AhR+/+ animals, although both reached full regeneration at the latest times. At initial stages after PHx, earlier regenerating Ahr−/− livers had upregulation of cell proliferation markers and increased activation of signalling pathways related to stemness such as Hippo-YAP and Wnt/β-catenin, concomitantly with the induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFa, IL6 and p65. These phenotypes, together with the improved metabolic adaptation of Ahr−/− mice after PHx and their induced sustained cell proliferation, could likely result from the expansion of undifferentiated stem cells residing in the liver expressing OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and NANOG. We propose that Ahr needs to be induced early during regeneration to fine-tune liver regrowth to physiological values. Since Ahr deficiency did not result in liver overgrowth, its transient pharmacological inhibition could serve to improve liver regeneration in hepatectomized and transplanted patients and in those exposed to damaging liver toxins and carcinogens.

Aging impairs organismal homeostasis leading to multiple pathologies. Yet, the mechanisms and molecular intermediates involved are largely unknown. Here, we report that aged aryl hydrocarbon receptor-null mice (