Li · Autophagy 2021 · in vitro mechanistic study · n=?

Sulforaphane Activates a lysosome-dependent transcriptional program to mitigate oxidative stress.

Cited 170 times in the scientific literature.

Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data

Bench mechanistic laboratory research with no human participants

PubMed 32138578 · doi:10.1080/15548627.2020.1739442 · record verified 2026-08-28

What was done

Mechanistic in vitro laboratory study investigating how sulforaphane (SFN) mitigates oxidative stress through autophagy and lysosomal pathways. The researchers examined the effects of SFN on transcription factor EB (TFEB) nuclear translocation, its interaction with NFE2L2/NRF2 signaling, and its dependence on Ca2+ and MTOR pathways during acute and chronic oxidative stress.

What was found

The abstract reports no numerical values, concentrations, or statistical metrics. SFN induced TFEB nuclear translocation via a Ca2+-dependent, MTOR-independent mechanism involving a moderate increase in reactive oxygen species. Activated TFEB subsequently increased the expression of autophagosome and lysosome biogenesis genes, and TFEB was required for SFN-mediated protection against oxidative stress.

Why it matters

It identifies TFEB activation as a key mechanistic pathway through which sulforaphane promotes lysosomal and autophagic clearance to counteract oxidative damage beyond canonical NRF2 signaling.

Limits

This is strictly non-human bench laboratory research. The abstract does not provide specific model systems, cell lines, sulforaphane doses, effect sizes, or quantitative data.

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