597 | id == 597
597 | category_id == 63
597 | category_order == 28
597 | category_name == Skin Health
597 | category_color == #C47AC0
597 | slug == AHR-melanoma
597 | title == A Detoxification Gene With a Surprising Role in Melanoma (AHR)
597 | meta_description == AHR promotes immunosuppression and lowers medication efficacy. A variant of AHR is linked to melanoma. Read more here.
597 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong><em>AHR</em> may alter the activity of genes involved in immunosuppression and therapeutic efficacy. How might a variant of <em>AHR</em> promote the progression of melanoma? Find out below.</strong></p>
597 | overall_score_text == Your Melanoma Score (based on AHR gene)
597 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/AHR-Melanoma.jpg
597 | author_id == 14
597 | author_name == Shany Lahan
597 | author_title == MS (Neuroscience)
597 | author_order == 5
597 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Shany.webp
597 | author_intro == <p>Shany received her MSc in Neuroscience from Western University.</p>    <p>Prior to joining SelfDecode, Shany conducted research related to Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease, and taught science to undergraduate students. She believes that research should be accessible to everyone, regardless of scientific background. Shany joined SelfDecode&nbsp;with a mission to help others optimize their health and wellbeing &ndash; as well as help them understand the science behind it all.</p>
597 | reviewer == None
597 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
597 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
597 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
597 | publish_date == 2021
597 | publish_date == 1
597 | publish_date == 12
597 | avg_rating == 5.0
597 | tags_id == 364
597 | tags_name == AHR gene
597 | tags_id == 1123
597 | tags_name == Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor
597 | tags_id == 1122
597 | tags_name == BRAF Gene
597 | tags_id == 1125
597 | tags_name == CYP Enzymes
597 | tags_id == 119
597 | tags_name == Detox
597 | tags_id == 1124
597 | tags_name == Detoxification
597 | tags_id == 1100
597 | tags_name == Melanoma
597 | tags_id == 1101
597 | tags_name == Skin Cancer
597 | tags_id == 1126
597 | tags_name == Xenobiotics
597 | permissions_favorite == False
597 | permissions_rate == False
597 | content_article == <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Summary</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">AHR </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">codes for a protein that alters the activity of genes involved in detoxification, immunosuppression, and inhibition of targeted therapies. A variant of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">AHR </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">may play a role in melanoma by increasing the production or activity of AhR. Lifestyle, diet, and supplement modifications may counteract the effects of this variant by limiting or lowering AhR activity.</span></span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>AHR</em></strong><strong> and Melanoma</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/ahr/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">AHR</span></em></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">gene codes for </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/aryl-hydrocarbon-receptor-ahr/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">aryl hydrocarbon receptor</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/aryl-hydrocarbon-receptor-ahr/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">AhR</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">), a protein that turns genes on or off. UV radiation, synthetic chemicals, air pollutants, and microbe byproducts have all been reported to activate AhR and in turn, alter the activity of protein-coding genes [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/196"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6736988/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">AhR is known to boost the production of </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/the-science-of-detoxification/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">detoxification</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> enzymes called </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/cyp-enzymes-interact-supplements-related-genes/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CYPs</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. These enzymes are involved in the breakdown and clearance of foreign substances (</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">xenobiotics</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">), including synthetic chemicals and air pollutants [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16153594/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">While this suggests a protective role for AhR in diseases such as cancer, researchers have observed increased levels of AhR in melanoma and other cancer forms [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30638277/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cancer cells can often avoid detection and consequent death by producing a molecule that immune cells recognize as &ldquo;normal.&rdquo; AhR has been suggested to take advantage of this mechanism in order to heighten immune cell evasion [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6736988/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In addition, AhR may lower the efficacy of a targeted melanoma treatment. </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/braf/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">BRAF</span></em></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">is a gene whose mutation (V600E or V600K) promotes melanoma progression, and is present in approximately 50% of patients with melanoma. Medications that block BRAF may improve survival rates in these patients [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6736988/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Studies have shown that AhR may turn on genes that induce resistance to BRAF inhibitors, thereby promoting melanoma progression in those that carry </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">BRAF </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">mutations [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6736988/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A variant of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">AHR </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">has been associated with melanoma. This variant may increase the production or activity of AhR, resulting in immune evasion, reduced efficacy of targeted therapies, and cancer progression [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5392271/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-06649-5"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://europepmc.org/article/med/26237428"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25826379/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: left;"><strong>Your </strong><strong><em>AHR</em></strong><strong> Results for Melanoma</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*5836545674196722*</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Primary SNP:</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>AHR </em></strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs1636744/"><strong>rs1636744</strong></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5392271/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-06649-5"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://europepmc.org/article/med/26237428"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25826379/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Higher odds of melanoma</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Not associated with melanoma</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;">*6122197961932093*</p> <h2 style="text-align: left;"><strong>Recommendations for Preventing Melanoma</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*2853163371890470*</p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Lifestyle</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Reducing UV Exposure</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">As </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/avoiding-sun-will-kill-14-proven-science-based-health-benefits-sun/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">UV</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> radiation may exacerbate AhR activity, reducing UV exposure may be beneficial for individuals carrying </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">AHR </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">risk variants [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6736988/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Excessive, unprotected exposure to UV radiation is by far the main risk factor for the development of melanoma. UV from both the sun and artificial sources (tanning beds and sun lamps) damages the DNA of pigment-producing cells (melanocytes), potentially causing mutations that turn these cells into melanomas [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25398793/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29936410/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24629998/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">People with low levels of the pigment melanin, who typically have fair skin, blond or red hair, and light-colored eyes, are at higher risk of melanoma than those with dark skin [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31002590"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alternatively, every single mole has a small probability of turning into cancer. Having a high number of moles, especially if they are large or have atypical features, also increases the risk of this skin cancer type [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2545764/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26934430"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Reducing exposure to UV by limiting sun exposure (especially during the middle of the day), wearing protective clothing and sunscreen, and being aware of skin-sensitizing medications can greatly reduce the risk of melanoma.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Reducing UV exposure may help prevent melanoma by limiting the activation of AhR.&nbsp;</span></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Maintaining a Healthy Weight</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Western diets are well-known to promote obesity. These diets also increase </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ldl-cholesterol/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">LDL-cholesterol</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and contain high amounts of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">(PAHs) -- contaminants formed when carbon-based substances are burned&nbsp;(e.g., via grilling or frying). LDL-cholesterol and PAHs have been shown to activate AhR [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32302739/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18313659/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Indeed, one study found that obese children had higher levels of AhR, in comparison to their healthier-weight counterparts [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32302739/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In men, being obese or overweight has been associated with an increased risk of melanoma in 21 studies of almost 25,000 people [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11552707/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8166137/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23200191/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/a-comprehensive-list-of-effective-ways-to-lose-weight/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Weight loss</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may also help improve the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic drugs for melanoma, as seen in a study in mice [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5142287/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Maintaining a healthy weight may help prevent melanoma by limiting the activation of AhR.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Diet</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Mediterranean Diet</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Mediterranean diet comprises </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/olive-oil/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">olive oil</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, fish, and legumes, as well as flavonoid-rich vegetables and fresh fruit. One flavonoid in particular, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/luteolin-benefits/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">luteolin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, was shown to suppress AhR in a cell-based study [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1241760/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Adherence to the Mediterranean diet has been associated with a reduction in the risk of melanoma by approximately 30% in multiple studies [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31380561/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18621803/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26212104/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6769978/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4516764/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, high intake of citrus fruits (a common ingredient of the Mediterranean diet) is linked to an </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">increased </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">risk of melanoma. The high psoralen content of these fruits may make the skin more sensitive to UV radiation [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4979231/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2741035/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31335211/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32791010/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32710289/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The Mediterranean diet may help prevent melanoma by suppressing AhR.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Supplements</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>B Vitamins</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/16-proven-benefits-vitamin-b9-folate-folic-acid/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vitamin B9</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/16-proven-benefits-vitamin-b9-folate-folic-acid/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">folic acid</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/vitamin-b12/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">B12</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/vitamin-b12/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">cobalamin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) may block the activity of AhR [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7355044/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Supplementation with a combination of </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/vitamin-b6/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">vitamin B6</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/vitamin-b6/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">pyridoxine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">), folic acid, and cobalamin was associated with a reduced incidence of melanoma in 3 studies of over 119,000 people [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22474057/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16531613/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2593624/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">B vitamins may help prevent melanoma by suppressing AhR.</span></p>
597 | content_snp_table_5836545674196722_key == 5836545674196722
597 | content_snp_table_5836545674196722_blur == True
597 | content_snp_table_5836545674196722_hidden == False
597 | content_learn_more_6122197961932093_key == 6122197961932093
597 | content_learn_more_6122197961932093_blur == True
597 | content_learn_more_6122197961932093_hidden == False
597 | content_learn_more_6122197961932093_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your AHR gene makes you somewhat more likely to develop melanoma. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of melanoma; it’s just one gene related to it. Reducing UV exposure, maintaining a healthy weight, adhering to the Mediterranean diet, and supplementing with B vitamins may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
597 | content_recommendation_2853163371890470_key == 2853163371890470
597 | content_recommendation_2853163371890470_blur == True
597 | content_recommendation_2853163371890470_hidden == False
rsIDs = rs1636744
rsStatus = rs1636744,,chr7,16944656,C,A,T,,27,0,Normal
