In addition, Axl−/− mice showed an increased bacterial load compared with WT mice, and antibiotics-mediated depletion of the gut microbiota inhibited the colitis-induced upregulation of Axl, which was corroborated by previous findings showing that the toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling regulates the Axl expression9,56. The gene discussed is AXL; the disease is colitis.