The multifaceted role of macrophage mitophagy in SiO-induced pulmonary fibrosis: A brief review.

Prolonged exposure to environments with high concentrations of crystalline silica (CS) can lead to silicosis. Macrophages play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of silicosis. In the process of silicosis, silica (SiO) invades alveolar macrophages (AMs) and induces mitophagy which usually exists in three states: normal, excessive, and/or deficiency.