Research progress of traditional Chinese medicine extracts in intervention of fibrosis caused by silicosis / 环境与职业医学

ABSTRACT

Silicotic nodules and pulmonary fibrosis are histopathological appearance in silicosis patients after long-term inhalation of crystalline silica particles, and are difficult to reverse and recover. Research on the pathogenesis and treatment strategies of silicosis has significantly lagged behind medical progress and clinical needs, resulting in the disease remaining a thorny clinical problem. Traditional Chinese medicine extracts or compound preparations have become a hot issue in exploring silicosis treatment strategies in recent years. This paper described the main pathological processes of pulmonary fibrosis caused by silicosis, followed by introducing its main pathogenesis mechanisms, including transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad signaling pathway, oxidative stress reaction, apoptosis, and autophagy. In addition, it briefly described the research progress, targets, and intervention effects of selected traditional Chinese medicine extracts, which provides a scientific basis for the theoretical and clinical research of traditional Chinese medicine extracts in inhibiting pulmonary fibrosis. To change the clinical status quo of silicosis fibrosis which is difficult to control and reverse, the paper proposed that we can further explore the pathogenesis and progression mechanisms of silicosis and drug treatment strategy, and focus on the transformation of basic research into clinical practice.