Papers

Peer-reviewed International journal
May 26, 2019

Role of Nephronectin in Pathophysiology of Silicosis.

International journal of molecular sciences
  • Suni Lee
  • ,
  • Machiko Honda
  • ,
  • Shoko Yamamoto
  • ,
  • Naoko Kumagai-Takei
  • ,
  • Kei Yoshitome
  • ,
  • Yasumitsu Nishimura
  • ,
  • Nagisa Sada
  • ,
  • Shigeyuki Kon
  • ,
  • Takemi Otsuki

Volume
20
Number
10
Language
English
Publishing type
Research paper (scientific journal)
DOI
10.3390/ijms20102581

Silicosis is a typical form of pneumoconiosis and is characterized as a type of lung fibrosis. Silica particles are captured and recognized upon by alveolar macrophages via the macrophage receptor with collagenous structure (MARCO) scavenger receptor, and thereafter the inflammasome is activated. Thereafter, various chemokines/cytokines play their roles to eventually form fibrosis. Additionally, silica particles chronically activate T helper cells which sets the background for the formation of silicosis-associated autoimmune disturbances. The occurrence and progression of lung fibrosis, the extracellular matrix-related molecules such as integrins and their ligands including fibronectin, vitronectin, laminin, and collagens, all play important roles. Here, the roles of these molecules in silicosis-related lung fibrosis are reviewed from the literature. Additionally, the measurement of serum nephronectin (Npnt), a new member of the integrin family of ligands, is discussed, together with investigations attempting to delineate the role of Npnt in silica-induced lung fibrosis. Serum Npnt was found to be higher in silicosis patients compared to healthy volunteers and seems to play a role in the progression of fibrosis with other cytokines. Therefore, serum Npnt levels may be employed as a suitable marker to monitor the progression of fibrosis in silicosis patients.

Link information
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20102581
PubMed
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31130697
PubMed Central
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6566895
ID information
  • DOI : 10.3390/ijms20102581
  • Pubmed ID : 31130697
  • Pubmed Central ID : PMC6566895

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