Exposure to silica dust may trigger pulmonary fibrosis in human and mouse cells, study indicates

By Dr Deepu

Researchers found in “both human cells and mice” that “exposure to silica dust may trigger pulmonary fibrosis (PF) because silica particles block a self-cleansing process used by cells, termed autophagy, which drives cell death in the lungs.”

The researchers have summarized their study by saying” we have shown that autophagy participates in SiNPs-induced PF. We have also identified that the autophagic flux blockage results from lysosomal acidification inhibition, which then triggers apoptosis in AECs and subsequent PF. These findings provide a new mechanism by which SiNPs trigger PF by targeting AECs. Furthermore, these results may lead to new strategies to prevent SiNPs-induced PF by enhancing autophagic degradation”.

The findings were published in Cell Death & Disease.

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