CD163 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CD163 gene. It is a scavenger receptor for the hemoglobin-haptoglobin complex. It has also been shown to mark cells of monocyte/macrophage lineage. A soluble form of the receptor exists in plasma, commonly denoted sCD163. It is generated by ectodomain shedding of the membrane bound receptor. sCD163 is upregulated in a large range of inflammatory diseases including liver cirrhosis, type 2
diabetes, macrophage activation syndrome, Gaucher’s disease, sepsis, HIV infection, rheumatoid arthritis and Hodgkin Lymphoma.