However, isolated CD68-positive macrophages from chronic wounds suggest that diabetes results in a less anti-inflammatory and a more pro-inflammatory macrophage phenotype, characterized by reduced expression of CD206 (a pattern recognition receptor that can recognize microbial carbohydrates) and CD163 (a scavenger receptor for the hemoglobin-haptoglobin complex), which are often used as markers of the alternatively activated “M2” macrophage phenotype, and increased expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-12 upon ex vivo stimulation (68). This evidence concerns the gene CD68 and diabetes mellitus.