As CD5L protein levels are known to increase in infection sites, including the peritoneum during CLP63,64, the discrepant mRNA levels might simply reflect the local presence or absence of CD5L-producing cells: the main source of CD5L, as well as the most abundant phagocytic cells in the peritoneum of naïve mice at steady state, are large peritoneal macrophages (LPMs), which rapidly disappear from the peritoneum after CLP or sham surgery; one to three days later, circulating monocytes infiltrate the peritoneum to repopulate this anatomical site65,66. This evidence concerns the gene CD5L and infection.