The Role of Macrophages in Connective Tissue Disease-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease: Focusing on Molecular Mechanisms and Potential Treatment Strategies.

ABSTRACT: Connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) is a severe manifestation of CTD that leads to significant morbidity and mortality. Clinically, ILD can occur in diverse CTDs. Pathologically, CTD-ILD is characterized by various histologic patterns, such as nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, organizing pneumonia, and usual interstitial pneumonia. Abnormal immune system responses have traditionally been instrumental in its pathophysiology, and various changes in immune cells have been described, especially in macrophages. This article first briefly overviews the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, impacts, and histopathologic changes associated with CTD-ILD. Next, it summarizes the roles of various signaling pathways in macrophages or products of macrophages in I

SUBMITTER: Tseng CC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10419312 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature