Importantly, we found that treatment of cells with either GW9662 or SSO to block PPARγ and CD36, respectively, effectively reduced the expression of TGF-β in SiO2 and ox-LDL exposed cells (P < 0.05), suggesting that pro-fibrotic responses by foam cells in the lungs of silicosis patients can be attenuated by these therapies (Fig. 9). Here, PPARG is linked to silicosis.