Host: The Japanese Society of Toxicology
Tributyltin (TBT), which has been widely used as an antifouling agent in marine paints, is a common environmental contaminant. Although neurotoxic effects of TBT have been reported in mammals, its mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of TBT on autophagy, a lysosomal degradation pathway, in human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY-5Y. We revealed that TBT inhibits autophagy and decreases protein levels of mature cathepsin B, a lysosomal cysteine protease. These results suggest that dysfunctional autophagy is involved in TBT-induced neurotoxicity.
