Silicosis: New Challenges from an Old Inflammatory and Fibrotic Disease
Silicosis, an occupational lung disease that can be prevented, is still a significant public health concern in many countries, despite its considerably decreased incidence over the years. The latency period for silicosis ranges from a few years to several decades, depending on the duration and inten...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IMR Press
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.imrpress.com/journal/FBL/28/5/10.31083/j.fbl2805096 |
| _version_ | 1797814413024034816 |
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| author | Claudia-Mariana Handra Irina-Luciana Gurzu Marinela Chirila Isabel Ghita |
| author_facet | Claudia-Mariana Handra Irina-Luciana Gurzu Marinela Chirila Isabel Ghita |
| author_sort | Claudia-Mariana Handra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Silicosis, an occupational lung disease that can be prevented, is still a significant public health concern in many countries, despite its considerably decreased incidence over the years. The latency period for silicosis ranges from a few years to several decades, depending on the duration and intensity of exposure to silica dust. The complex pathogenic mechanisms of the disease are not fully understood, but it is known to be characterized by inflammation, the formation of silicotic nodules, and progressive and irreversible fibrosis. The aim of this paper was to present the current sources of exposure to silica dust and summarize the updates on risk factors (e.g., socioeconomic status, genetic susceptibility) and sex differences, silico-tuberculosis, prognostic markers including 16-kDa Clara cell secretory protein, antifibrotic treatment, and other therapeutic possibilities with promising results. There are no effective treatment options for silicosis, and prevention remains the primary tool to significantly reduce the risk of disease. There are promising new treatments under investigation including antifibrotic, cellular, and immunomodulatory therapies, but further research is needed to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of these therapies in adequately powered clinical trials. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T08:07:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-727806fd0fed40b89940021d82a350ad |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2768-6701 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T08:07:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | IMR Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark |
| spelling | doaj.art-727806fd0fed40b89940021d82a350ad2023-06-01T02:53:05ZengIMR PressFrontiers in Bioscience-Landmark2768-67012023-05-012859610.31083/j.fbl2805096S2768-6701(23)00884-5Silicosis: New Challenges from an Old Inflammatory and Fibrotic DiseaseClaudia-Mariana Handra0Irina-Luciana Gurzu1Marinela Chirila2Isabel Ghita3Occupational Medicine Department, “Carol Davila'' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, RomaniaOccupational Medicine Department, “Gr. T. Popa'' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaFaculty of Pharmacy, Titu Maiorescu University, 040441 Bucharest, RomaniaPharmacology and Pharmacotherapy Department, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, RomaniaSilicosis, an occupational lung disease that can be prevented, is still a significant public health concern in many countries, despite its considerably decreased incidence over the years. The latency period for silicosis ranges from a few years to several decades, depending on the duration and intensity of exposure to silica dust. The complex pathogenic mechanisms of the disease are not fully understood, but it is known to be characterized by inflammation, the formation of silicotic nodules, and progressive and irreversible fibrosis. The aim of this paper was to present the current sources of exposure to silica dust and summarize the updates on risk factors (e.g., socioeconomic status, genetic susceptibility) and sex differences, silico-tuberculosis, prognostic markers including 16-kDa Clara cell secretory protein, antifibrotic treatment, and other therapeutic possibilities with promising results. There are no effective treatment options for silicosis, and prevention remains the primary tool to significantly reduce the risk of disease. There are promising new treatments under investigation including antifibrotic, cellular, and immunomodulatory therapies, but further research is needed to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of these therapies in adequately powered clinical trials.https://www.imrpress.com/journal/FBL/28/5/10.31083/j.fbl2805096silicosisinflammationfibrosiscurrent treatmentantifibrotic treatment |
| spellingShingle | Claudia-Mariana Handra Irina-Luciana Gurzu Marinela Chirila Isabel Ghita Silicosis: New Challenges from an Old Inflammatory and Fibrotic Disease Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark silicosis inflammation fibrosis current treatment antifibrotic treatment |
| title | Silicosis: New Challenges from an Old Inflammatory and Fibrotic Disease |
| title_full | Silicosis: New Challenges from an Old Inflammatory and Fibrotic Disease |
| title_fullStr | Silicosis: New Challenges from an Old Inflammatory and Fibrotic Disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | Silicosis: New Challenges from an Old Inflammatory and Fibrotic Disease |
| title_short | Silicosis: New Challenges from an Old Inflammatory and Fibrotic Disease |
| title_sort | silicosis new challenges from an old inflammatory and fibrotic disease |
| topic | silicosis inflammation fibrosis current treatment antifibrotic treatment |
| url | https://www.imrpress.com/journal/FBL/28/5/10.31083/j.fbl2805096 |
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