In the present study, there was an initial decline observed in AM numbers following allergen challenge but also a clear shift in their functional phenotype, with an increase in the proportion of IL-4 (24 h) and IL-13 (4 and 24 h) producing AMs, suggesting the emergence of alternatively activated macrophages [52, 53] and a likely contribution to the key pathophysiological features of the sheep allergic asthma model. The gene discussed is IL4; the disease is allergic asthma.