Cluster Of Differentiation (CD163)

CD163, a hemoglobin scavenger receptor, is expressed in monocytes and macrophages.Acute phase-regulated receptor involved in clearance and endocytosis of hemoglobin/haptoglobin c by macrophages and may thereby protect tissues from free hemoglobin-mediated oxidative damage.

CD163 may play a role in the uptake and recycling of iron, via endocytosis of hemoglobin/haptoglobin and subsequent breakdown of heme. It binds hemoglobin/haptoglobin complexes in a calcium-dependent and pH-dependent manner. It exhibits a higher affinity for complexes of hemoglobin and multimeric haptoglobin of HP*1F phenotype than for complexes of hemoglobin and dimeric haptoglobin of HP*1S phenotype.