Stem cell-based therapies for silicosis: mechanisms, sources, clinical translation, and emerging strategies

Several human studies show positive signals, while research methods and sample sizes continue to develop.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Silicosis is an irreversible fibrotic interstitial lung disease triggered by chronic exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS). Currently, effective therapeutic interventions for this disease remain lacking, as existing clinical approaches are limited to mitigating disease progression rather than reversing or halting pathological changes. Stem cell-based therapies have emerged as a promising therapeutic modality for silicosis, leveraging their inherent biological properties to target key pathogenic cascades, such as NLRP3 inflammasome activation, TGF-β1/Smad-mediated fibrotic progression, and Th1/Th2 immune homeostasis imbalance. Notably, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have advanced to early-phase (I/II) clinical trials for related pulmonary fibrotic diseases, demonstrating preliminary safety and potential for stabilizing lung function. This review synthesizes the latest advancements in stem cell-based therapeutic strategies for silicosis, with a systematic comparison of three key cell sources. The discussion encompasses adult stem cells, such as the readily accessible and immunomodulatory mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and the epithelium-regenerative airway basal stem cells (ABSCs), as well as the pluripotent but ethically debated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Additionally, this review discusses critical challenges impeding the clinical translation of these thera

Evidence level

Several human studies show positive signals, while research methods and sample sizes continue to develop.

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