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 ILD, helped by insights gained from animal models. In the following sections, this review returns to studies of macrophages in CTD-ILD in humans for an overall picture of the current understanding. Finally, we direct attention to potential therapies targeting macrophages in CTD-ILD in investigation or in clinical trials, as well as the future directions regarding macrophages in the context of CTD-ILD. Although the field of macrophages in CTD-ILD is still in its infancy, several lines of evidence suggest the potential of this area.

Studies have shown aspirin decreases the risk of some cancers. However, the evidence reported the association between aspirin and cancer risk in the diabetic population. In this study, we investigate whether aspirin and dipyridamole decrease the risk of cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes. A total of 5308 patients with type 2 diabetes were identified by the National Health Insurance from 1998 to 2000 and followed up until 2013. The demographic characteristics among nondipyridamole nor aspirin, aspirin, and dipyridamole users were analyzed by using the χ(2) test. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to determine the independent effects of no aspirin nor dipyridamole, aspirin, and dipyridamole users on the risk of different cancer. After adjustment with multiple covariates, both low and high doses of aspirin and dipyridamole decrease liver cancer with risk ratios of 0.56 (95% CI, 0.37–0.83), 0.14 (95% CI, 0.05–0.39), 0.61 (95% CI, 0.38–0.99), and 0.28 (95% CI, 0.12–0.66), respectively. Both low and high doses of aspirin decrease any types of cancer with risk ratios of 0.79 (95% CI, 0.64–0.98) and 0.49 (95% CI, 0.34–0.70), respectively. Therefore, we conclude aspirin may decrease any types of cancer and liver cancer, and dipyridamole may decrease the risk of liver cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes.