Objective To investigate the effect of peroxiredoxin-1 (Prx-1) on pulmonary function induced by silicosis. Methods Forty C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group (normal saline), silicosis group (SiO2), negative control group (SiO2+empty lentivirus) and Prx-1 group (SiO2+Prx1 lentivirus). Crystalline silica instillation and lentivirus were given via trachea, and then all mice were normally raised for 12 weeks. HE staining was used to observe the morphological changes of lung tissue. The expressions of 8-hydroxy-2 deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), Prx-1, collagen type Ⅰ and Ⅲ were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting respectively. FinePointe WBP whole body plethysmography system was employed to measure the pumonary function.   Results It had the normal structure of lung tissue in control group. SiO2 markedly induced silicosis formation and increase in collagen typeⅠ and Ⅲ, with a similar extent of silicotic nodules and collagen expression in silicosis group and negatively control group, but Prx-1 lentivirus treatment ameliorated these pathological changes. SiO2 increased 8-OHdG and Prx-1 expressions significantly. There were no changes between silicosis group and negative control group. But the level of 8-OHdG in Prx-1 group was lower than silicosis group and Prx-1 level was higher than silicosis group. SiO2 also decreased the pulmonary function significantly. Compared with silicosis group, the mice lung function was improved in Prx-1 group, but there was no effect of empty lentivirus transfection.   Conclusion Overexpression of Prx-1, mediated by decrease in reactive oxygen species(ROS), improves the pulmonary function in mice with silicosis.