Transcription factor EB (TFEB)-mediated autophagy protects against ethyl carbamate-induced cytotoxicity

Ethyl carbamate (EC) is thought to be a toxicant that widely exists in cigarette smoke and polluted air, as well as fermented food and alcoholic beverages. However, the mechanism and approach to treat hepatic damage after EC exposure remain unclear. Here, we first found that EC caused decreased cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction and glutathione (GSH) depletion in normal human hepatocytes L02 cells. Excessive ROS...