A 45-year-old woman with a 10-year history of rheumatoid arthritis presents to clinic with progressive dyspnea on exertion and a dry cough over the past 8 months. She reports no fever, chills, or hemoptysis. Vital signs: BP 128/82 mmHg, HR 94 bpm, RR 22/min, SpO2 92% on room air. Physical examination reveals fine late inspiratory crackles at the bilateral lung bases. Chest radiograph shows bilateral lower lobe predominant reticular opacities with traction bronchiectasis. High-resolution CT chest confirms usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern. Pulmonary function testing demonstrates: FVC 65% predicted, FEV1 68% predicted, FEV1/FVC ratio 88%, DLCO 55% predicted. Which of the following best explains the pathophysiology of her pulmonary disease?

1. A)Immune-mediated alveolar inflammation with granuloma formation leading to pulmonary fibrosis
2. B)Progressive fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition in the alveolar interstitium with heterogeneous lung involvementGABARITO
3. C)Predominantly neutrophilic alveolar inflammation with uniform interstitial pneumonitis and preservation of underlying lung architecture
4. D)Epithelial injury with capillary permeability leading to diffuse alveolar damage and acute respiratory insufficiency
5. E)Small airway obstruction with air trapping and emphysematous changes in the pulmonary parenchyma