Alternative sequence (3); Chain (2); Disulfide bond (26); Domain (9); Erroneous initiation (5); Glycosylation (4); Motif (1); Mutagenesis (3); Natural variant (1); Signal peptide (1); Site (4); Topological domain (2); Transmembrane (1); Intravenous lipopolysaccharide (LPS) produces a rapid rise of sCD163 in plasma of patient as it induces metalloproteinase-mediated shedding from monocytes surface. Long-term LPS infusion finally increases expression of the membrane-bound form on circulating monocytes.; The soluble form (sCD163) in plasma is a novel parameter in diseases affecting macrophage function and monocyte/macrophage load in the body. The concentration of sCD163 is probably reflecting the number of macrophages of the 'alternative macrophage activation' phenotype with a high CD163 expression playing a major role in dampening the inflammatory response and scavenging components of damaged cells. This has initiated a number of clinical studies for evaluation of sCD163 as a disease marker in inflammatory conditions e.g. infection, autoimmune disease, transplantation, atherosclerosis and cancer.; Induced by anti-inflammatory mediators such as glucocorticoids, interleukin-6/IL6 and interleukin-10/IL10; suppressed by proinflammatory mediators like bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS), IFNG/IFN-gamma and TNF. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:10577520, ECO:0000269|PubMed:10648003}.; Expressed in monocytes and mature macrophages such as Kupffer cells in the liver, red pulp macrophages in the spleen, cortical macrophages in the thymus, resident bone marrow macrophages and meningeal macrophages of the central nervous system. Expressed also in blood. Isoform 1 is the lowest abundant in the blood. Isoform 2 is the lowest abundant in the liver and the spleen. Isoform 3 is the predominant isoform detected in the blood. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:10577520, ECO:0000269|PubMed:11196644, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16434690}.