TGFB1 and pulmonary fibrosis: ALKBH5 was significantly upregulated and increased in a dose-dependent manner when treated with TGF-β1 (0, 1, 2, and 5 ng/ml) for 48 h (Fig. 1C; Additional file 1: Fig. S1B-D), suggesting that ALKBH5 may be associated with the silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis process.