Subacute exposure of 2, 2', 4, 4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether induced liver injury by inhibiting mitochondrial autophagy and increasing NLRP3 inflammasome in mice.

Summary: BDE-47 is a chemical used to stop fires from spreading. It is found in our environment and can make people sick. In this study, scientists found that BDE-47 hurts the livers of mice. It does this by damaging the parts of the cell that make energy, called mitochondria. Normally, cells clean up damaged mitochondria, but the chemical stops this cleanup process. This causes swelling and severe damage in the liver. The good news? A medicine called rapamycin helped turn the cleanup process back on, which protected the mice's livers from the chemical.