Oncomodulin mRNA production peaks within a day of an inflammatory response. During inflammation, macrophages are released into the eye in order to promote axon regeneration. Inducing an inflammatory response enables the ability of sensory neurons to regenerate their axons through the dorsal roots. The secretion of oncomodulin from macrophages stimulates the growth of neurons. The identity of the receptor for oncomodulin that allows axon regeneration is unknown. It is also unknown whether oncomodulin promotes regeneration elsewhere in the immune system. Signaling complexes that may be important to work with oncomodulin include PI 3 Kinase, MAP Kinase, JAK/STAT, and CaM Kinase II. The depletion of oncomodulin from media in which macrophages grow removes the axon-promoting activity of the media.