Protein Expression Profile in Rat Silicosis Model Reveals Upregulation of PTPN2 and Its Inhibitory Effect on Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition by Dephosphorylation of STAT3.

Silicosis is a chronic occupational lung disease caused by long-term inhalation ofcrystalline silica particulates. We created a rat model that closely approximates the exposure and development of silicosis in humans. Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) technologies weused to identify proteins differentially expressed in activated rat lung tissue.