# Inflammatory Injury Caused by Silica Exposure

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY · 2024 · $382,500

## Abstract

Project Summary
More than 2 million people in the US are exposed to respirable crystalline silica at work. Inhalation
of dust containing respirable crystalline silica causes silicosis, which is characterized by chronic
inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis. Silica exposure also increases the risk of developing
autoimmune diseases and cancer. Silicosis patients have a median survival of 6 years after
diagnosis. The pathophysiology of silicosis has not been fully understood. Currently, there is no
effective treatment against this devastating disease. It has been reported that the dysregulation
of alveolar macrophages plays an important role in the pathogenesis of silicosis. The deposition
of fine silica particles in alveoli and the ingestion of silica particles by alveolar macrophages trigger
pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic responses. However, molecular mechanisms of the
dysregulated alveolar macrophage responses remain elusive. Using a mouse model of silicosis,
our preliminary studies indicate that myeloid HDAC6 plays an essential role in the pathogenesis
of silicosis. In the proposed studies, we will test the hypothesis that myeloid HDAC6 is a key
mediator of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic responses in silicosis. We will investigate the
specific role of myeloid HDAC6 in silicosis and evaluate the therapeutic potential of HDAC6 as a
target to treat silicosis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10831064
- **Project number:** 5R01HL163712-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
- **Principal Investigator:** Jian Fu
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $382,500
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-05-01 → 2027-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10831064

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10831064, Inflammatory Injury Caused by Silica Exposure (5R01HL163712-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10831064. Licensed CC0.

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