The gene with the most significant difference between CD64+ CD206+ and CD64+ CD206− macrophages was serine/threonine/tyrosine interacting like 1 (styxl1), a gene of largely uncharacterised function (HGNC: HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee), followed closely by Versican (vcan), which is enriched in inflamed tissues containing leukocytic infiltrate, including IBD intestinal mucosa33,34. This evidence concerns the gene VCAN and inflammatory bowel disease.