Interestingly, focusing on CD14+HLA-DR+ PBMCs, we observed that the percentage of inflammatory monocytes that expressed AIM2 was significantly higher in PC patients compared to HV subjects, both when we considered PC patients without signs of lung fibrosis (Figure 5C, blue vs green dots, p=0.0001) and with fibrotic-like changes (Figure 5C, black vs green dots, p<0.0001). This evidence concerns the gene AIM2 and pulmonary fibrosis.