CD163 (Hemoglobin Scavenger Receptor)

CD163 (Hemoglobin Scavenger Receptor)

Overview

Pathway Diagram

```mermaid
flowchart TD
CD163["CD163<br/>Scavenger Receptor"]
TNF["TNF<br/>Tumor Necrosis Factor"]
AMPK["AMPK<br/>AMP-activated Kinase"]
INFLAMMATION_GENE["INFLAMMATION<br/>Gene"]
MICROGLIA["MICROGLIA<br/>Activation"]
NEUROINFLAMMATION["Neuroinflammation<br/>Process"]
MS["Multiple Sclerosis<br/>MS"]
ALS["Amyotrophic Lateral<br/>Sclerosis"]
ALZHEIMER["Alzheimer's<br/>Disease"]
STROKE["Stroke<br/>Event"]
AGING["Aging<br/>Process"]
SENESCENCE["Cellular<br/>Senescence"]
INFLAMMATION_DIS["Inflammatory<br/>Response"]

TNF --"upregulates"--> CD163
AMPK --"activates"--> CD163
INFLAMMATION_GENE --"promotes"--> CD163
CD163 --"activates"--> MICROGLIA
CD163 --"promotes"--> NEUROINFLAMMATION
CD163 --"biomarker for"--> MS
CD163 --"biomarker for"--> ALS
CD163 --"biomarker for"--> AGING
CD163 --"therapeutic target"--> ALZHEIMER
CD163 --"promotes"--> STROKE
CD163 --"associated with"--> SENESCENCE
CD163 --"activates"--> INFLAMMATION_DIS
NEUROINFLAMMATION --"contributes to"--> MS
NEUROINFLAMMATION --"contributes to"--> ALS
NEUROINFLAMMATION --"contributes to"--> ALZHEIMER

CD163 (Hemoglobin Scavenger Receptor)

Overview

Pathway Diagram

<table class="infobox infobox-gene">
<tr><th colspan="2" style="background:#e6f2ff;">CD163</th></tr>
<tr><td><b>Gene Symbol</b></td><td>CD163</td></tr> [@microglia2020]
<tr><td><b>Full Name</b></td><td>CD163 Molecule (Hemoglobin Scavenger Receptor)</td></tr> [@microglia2021]
<tr><td><b>Aliases</b></td><td>M130, SCARI1, SR-AII</td></tr> [@biomarker2022]
<tr><td><b>Chromosomal Location</b></td><td>12p13.31</td></tr> [@microglial2021]
<tr><td><b>Gene Type</b></td><td>Protein coding</td></tr> [@iron2023]
<tr><td><b>NCBI Gene ID</b></td><td>[9332](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/9332)</td></tr> [@inflammatory2020]
<tr><td><b>OMIM</b></td><td>[605226](https://omim.org/entry/605226)</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Ensembl ID</b></td><td>ENSG00000177575</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>UniProt ID</b></td><td>[Q86VB7](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q86VB7)</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Associated Diseases</b></td><td>[Alzheimer's disease](/diseases/alzheimer's-disease), [Parkinson's disease](/diseases/parkinson's-disease), [Multiple sclerosis](/diseases/multiple-sclerosis), [ALS](/diseases/ALS), Stroke</td></tr>
</table>

Function

CD163 (Cluster of Differentiation 163), also known as the Hemoglobin Scavenger Receptor, is a member of the scavenger receptor family. It is expressed primarily on monocytes and macrophages, including brain [microglia](/cell-types/microglia-neuroinflammation), and plays essential roles in hemoglobin clearance, anti-inflammatory signaling, and immune regulation.

Molecular Function

CD163 is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein with:

• Extracellular domain: 9 scavenger receptor cysteine-rich (SRCR) domains
• Transmembrane region: Single pass
• Cytoplasmic tail: Signaling capabilities

Scavenger Function

The primary function is hemoglobin/haptoglobin scavenging:

• Binds hemoglobin-haptoglobin complexes
• Prevents iron-mediated oxidative damage
• Facilitates iron recycling
• Anti-inflammatory: Hemoglobin clearance reduces [ROS](/entities/reactive-oxygen-species)

Signaling Properties

CD163 triggers anti-inflammatory responses:

• IL-10 induction: Promotes M2 (anti-inflammatory) polarization
• TGF-β production: Enhances tissue repair
• HO-1 activation: Heme oxygenase-1, protective against oxidative stress

Microglial Expression

In the brain, CD163 is a hallmark of:

• M2 microglia: Alternative activation state
• Perivascular macrophages: Brain border macrophages
• Inflammatory resolution: Tissue repair phase

Disease Associations

Alzheimer's Disease

CD163+ microglia in AD:

• Amyloid clearance: Attempted [Aβ](/proteins/amyloid-beta) phagocytosis
• Neuroinflammation: Chronic activation state
• Disease progression: Correlates with pathology
• Therapeutic target: Modulation of microglial phenotype

Parkinson's Disease

• Dopaminergic neuron loss: Associated with microglial activation
• [α-Synuclein](/proteins/alpha-synuclein) clearance: Attempted pathological protein removal
• Neuroinflammation: Chronic M1/M2 imbalance

Multiple Sclerosis

• Demyelination: CD163+ cells in lesions
• Remyelination: M2 cells promote repair
• Disease course: Biomarker for disease activity

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

• Motor neuron environment: Altered microglial responses
• Disease progression: M1/M2 polarization changes
• Therapeutic targeting: Modulation approaches

Stroke

• Ischemic injury: Early M1, later M2 response
• Recovery phase: M2 cells promote repair
• Biomarker: CD163 as outcome predictor

Expression

CD163 exhibits cell-type specific expression:

| Cell Type | Expression |
|-----------|------------|
| Microglia (brain) | High (M2 polarized) |
| Perivascular macrophages | High |
| Monocytes | Moderate |
| Tissue macrophages | High |
| [Astrocytes](/entities/astrocytes) | Very low |
| [Neurons](/entities/neurons) | None |

Therapeutic Implications

Biomarkers

• CSF CD163: Marker of neuroinflammation
• PET ligands: Imaging microglial activation
• Disease monitoring: Progression tracking

Therapeutic Targets

• CD163 agonists: Enhance M2 polarization
• Anti-CD163 antibodies: Modulate function
• Haptoglobin-CD163 axis: Therapeutic modulation

Research Applications

• Mouse models: CD163-Cre for microglial targeting
• Biomarker development for neurodegeneration

Cross-Links

• [Microglia](/entities/microglia)
• [Neuroinflammation](/mechanisms/neuroinflammation)
• [Alzheimer's disease mechanisms](/content/mechanisms)
• [Parkinson's disease mechanisms](/mechanisms/parkinsons-disease-mechanisms)
• [Multiple sclerosis](/diseases/multiple-sclerosis)
• [M2 microglia](/cell-types/microglia)
• [Iron metabolism](/experiments/astrocyte-ferritin-iron-metabolism-pd)

See Also

• [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease)
• [Parkinson's Disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease)

External Links

• [Ensembl: ENSG00000177575](https://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000177575)

References

Pathway Diagram

The following diagram shows the key molecular relationships involving CD163 (Hemoglobin Scavenger Receptor) discovered through SciDEX knowledge graph analysis: