Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers Quinone Induces NCOA4-Mediated Ferritinophagy through Selectively Autophagic Degradation of Ferritin

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been detected ubiquitously in biological and environmental samples. Growing epidemiological data suggested the obvious correlation of PBDEs exposure with adverse health outcomes toward human beings, but exact molecular mechanism(s) are limited. Especially, the toxicological information regarding PBDEs metabolites is missing. Thereafter, this study intends to explore unidentified cell death modalities caused by PBDEs reactive quinone-type metabolite, PBDEQ. We found that PBDEQ induces autophagy in an ROS-dependent manner. Interestingly, the results indicated that PBDEQ degraded ferritin and activated a selective autophagy (termed as ferritinophagy) by using NCOA4 as its cargo receptor. These processes may further promote the release of iron and ROS. These results suggested the incidence of ferritinophagy induced by PBDEQ, which may contribute to PBDE exposure-caused diseases and dysfunctions.