Abstract: The present disclosure provides use of a reagent for detecting retinol metabolites in preparation of a tool for diagnosing and/or treating pneumoconiosis, and relates to the technical field of biomedicine. The present disclosure verifies that retinol metabolism disturbance and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) deficiency are closely related to the pathogenesis of pneumoconiosis. Therefore, the present disclosure sets forth use of retinol and ATRA as biomarkers for screening the pneumoconiosis and use thereof in preparation of products related to the diagnosis of the pneumoconiosis; meanwhile, intervention of the pneumoconiosis with the ATRA can effectively delay the progression of the pneumoconiosis. Therefore, the present disclosure first sets forth use of the ATRA as a medicament for treating the pneumoconiosis.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods of administering tetrandrine in combination with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) for treating pneumoconiosis. Administration of ATRA in combination with tetrandrine can effectively alleviate the progression of silicosis: impaired cardiopulmonary functions of mice with silicosis are improved significantly, including inspiratory capacity, quasi-static compliance, and right ventricular pressure; concentrations of inflammatory factors IL-1? and IL-6 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids of mice with silicosis decrease, and the number of inflammatory cells is reduced; levels of fibrosis factors FN-1 and Col-I decrease, fibrous foci are reduced, and pathological degree is alleviated. Moreover, combination therapy with ATRA in combination with tetrandrine shows a superiority of combined administration in terms of cardiopulmonary function, inflammation and fibrosis, and exhibits a better effect than administration of tetrandrine alone.