Upregulation of Slc26a4 in the Early Development of Silicosis via GEO Database Analysis in vivo and in vitro

Silicosis is characterized by the development of progressive pulmonary fibrosis as a result of inhaling free SiO2.Treatment is limited as to date only a limited number of effective therapies are known.This fibrotic process usually takes between 15 and 20 years to develop and is dependent on the amount of SiO2 inhaled.Its main symptoms are coughing,breathlessness,and general weakness,and diagnosisis primarily facilitated by chest X-ray.Sufferers tendto be diagnosed only in the late stages,when thelungs present considerable fibrotic nodules,andconsequently,an important loss of respiratoryfunction[1].Based on increasing evidenee fromepidemiological and experimental animal studies,the In ter national Agency for Research on Can cer(IARC)has classified crystalline silica as a Group 1carcinogen(1997),which could lead to lung cancer(LC)[2].