Human peripheral blood are stained with FITC Anti-Human CD11b Antibody and PerCP/Cyanine5.5 Anti-Human CD163 Antibody (Left). Cells in the monocyte gate were used for analysis. Cells are stained with FITC Anti-Human CD11b Antibody and PerCP/Cyanine5.5 Mouse IgG1,κ Isotype Control (Right).
CD163 is a member of the group B scavenger receptor cysteine-rich superfamily, also known as GHI/61, M130, RM3/1, p155, hemoglobin-haptoglobin complex receptor, or macrophage-associated antigen. It is a 134 kD (non-reduced)/155 kD (reduced) glycoprotein primarily expressed on macrophages, Kupffer cells, monocytes, a subset of dendritic cells, and a subset of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. CD163 binds to haptoglobin-hemoglobin complex and TWEAK, and plays a role in clearing hemoglobin and regulating cytokine production by macrophages. Membrane CD163 can be cleaved by metalloproteinases (MMP), resulting in a soluble form. Elevated serum level of sCD163 has been implicated in many kinds of inflammatory diseases.