MAP3K7 and pneumoconiosis: To examine whether TAK1 inhibition by pharmacological approach could attenuate both inflammation and fibrosis in experimental pneumoconiosis, we incubated primary alveolar macrophages and lung fibroblasts isolated from silica-exposed rats with previously identified TAK1 inhibitor 5Z-7-oxozeaenol [31] at concentrations of 5, 10 and 20 μM, respectively.