ADVANCING THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES FOR SILICOSIS CHALLENGES AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

Silicosis is a progressive occupational lung disease caused by prolonged inhalation of crystalline silica particles and remains a significant global public health concern. Despite advances in occupational safety measures, the disease continues to affect workers in mining, construction, quarrying, and artificial stone industries. The pathogenesis of silicosis involves a complex interaction between oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, immune dysregulation, and pulmonary fibrosis. Currently, no definitive curative treatment is available, and existing therapeutic approaches are primarily aimed at slowing disease progression and improving quality of life. This review summarizes the major pathogenic mechanisms underlying silicosis and evaluates current and emerging therapeutic strategies, including antifibrotic agents, anti-cytokine therapies, antioxidants, inflammasome inhibitors, autophagy modulators, stem cell-based therapies, extracellular vesicles, and molecular-targeted interventions. Recent experimental and clinical findings suggest that targeting multiple pathogenic pathways may provide improved therapeutic outcomes. Future advances in regenerative medicine and precision therapeutics may contribute to the development of more effective treatment strategies for patients with silicosis.

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