The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a highly conserved, developmentally regulated, and ligand-activated member of bHLH/PAS family of transcription factors. Accumulating data indicates that it plays an important role in variety of developmental and physiological functions. The AhR is present in cytosol as component of multiprotein complex containing the immunophilin-like protein XAP2/AIP/ARA9, the 23-kDa co-chaperone protein p23, and two molecule of hsp90. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor is originally identified as mediating the toxicity of a large group of xenobiotics. These xenobiotic ligands have potent and persistent effects on the immune system in experimental animal models. Epidemiological studies have linked human exposure to environmental AhR ligands with increased incidence of lymphoma and leukemia. AhR plays significant roles in physiological functions of stem cells of various tissue origins. This research area has been identified recently. We invite overview and original papers describing current development in the area of AhR role in stem cell functions. Both experimental and review papers are welcome.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• AhR and hematopoietic stem cells
• AhR and megakaryocytic differentiation
• AhR and induced pluripotent cells
• AhR and neuronal development
• AhR and liver stem cells
• AhR and skin stem cells
• Environmental chemicals and stem cells
• Stem cells as model of drug discovery and toxicological evaluation
• AhR and cancer