18 Aug 2023 --- Molecules in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli or kale may help maintain a healthy lung barrier and ease infection, according to new research on mice. These molecules help to activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a protein that signals cells to respond to environmental stressors or infections. AHR helps to prevent tissue damage, which is impacted by infection. The researchers found that AHR was highly active in lung endothelial cells, which form a single cell layer that lines all blood vessels and regulates exchanges between the bloodstream and the surrounding tissue. AHR is often expressed in body parts exposed to external stimuli, such as the lungs and gut.
