CD163 is the macrophage scavenger receptor for native and chemically modified hemoglobins in the absence of haptoglobin.

CD163 mediates the internalization of hemoglobin-haptoglobin (Hb-Hp) complexes by macrophages. Because Hp binding capacity is exhausted during severe hemolysis, an Hp-independent Hb-clearance pathway is presumed to exist. We demonstrate that Hb interacts efficiently with CD163 in the absence of Hp. Not only is Hb internalized into an endosomal compartment by CD163 as a result of active receptor-dependent endocytosis; it also inhibits the uptake of Hb-Hp complexes, suggesting a common receptor-binding site. Free Hb further induces heme oxygenase mRNA expression in CD163+ HEK293 cells, but not in CD163- cells. Additional evidence for Hp-independent Hb-CD163 interaction is provided by the demonstration that CD163 mediates the uptake of alpha alpha-DBBF crosslinked Hb, a chemically modified Hb that forms minimal Hp complexes. Moreover, certain modifications to Hb, such as polymerization or the attachment of specific functional groups (3 lysyl residues) to the beta-Cys93 can reduce or enhance this pathway of uptake. In human macrophages, Hp-complex formation critically enhances Hb uptake at low (1 microg/mL), but not at high (greater than 100 microg/mL), ligand concentrations, lending support for a concentration-dependent biphasic model of macrophage Hb-clearance. These results identify CD163 as a scavenger receptor for native Hb and small-molecular-weight Hb-based blood substitutes after Hp depletion.