AXL and systemic lupus erythematosus: A first insight was recently provided by Orme et al., who documented that macrophages and B cells are a source of the soluble Axl receptor ectodomain measured in SLE sera and that the shedding of Axl inhibits the Gas6-induced anti-inflammatory signalling [20], providing evidence for an association between inflammation and disturbances to the equilibrium between membrane-bound and soluble Axl.