MERTK and infection: In contrast, Axl−/−Mertk−/− macrophages isolated from the infected lung show reduced levels of anti-inflammatory and tissue repair genes as Retnla and Alox15. Interestingly, AXL and MERTK expression seems to be dispensable for controlling lung tissue damage during the initial stage of the infection, as mirrored by the similar amount of red blood cells detected in the bronchoalveolar lavage of WT and Axl−/−Mertk−/− mice [92].