CD163

Formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue block or cell block, or 1 unstained charged slide for each test requested plus 3-4 additional unstained slides cut at 4 microns. Adequate space on each slide for control tissue is required.

CD163 is a sensitive and specific marker for the monocyte / macrophage lineage. It is present in circulating monocytes and in most but not all tissue macrophages from different sites, including lung alveolar macrophages, liver Kupffer cells, placental Hofbauer cells, and interfollicular and sinus histiocytes of lymph nodes and tonsils, but negative in germinal center tingible body macrophages and splenic white pulp macrophages. The accessory dendritic cells, including follicular dendritic cells, interdigitating dendritic cells and Langerhan cells, also lack CD163 expression.