CD163 interacts with TWEAK to regulate tissue regeneration after ischaemic injury.

Macrophages are an essential component of the immune response to ischaemic injury and play an important role in promoting inflammation and its resolution, which is necessary for tissue repair. The type I transmembrane glycoprotein CD163 is exclusively expressed on macrophages, where it acts as a receptor for haemoglobin:haptoglobin complexes. An extracellular portion of CD163 circulates in the blood as a soluble protein, for which no physiological function has so far been described.

Hepcidin-ferroportin axis controls toll-like receptor 4 dependent macrophage inflammatory responses in human atherosclerotic plaques.

Objectives: Toll-like Receptor 4 (TLR4) is implicated in modulating inflammatory cytokines though its role in atherosclerosis remains uncertain. We have recently described a non-foam cell macrophage phenotype driven by ingestion of hemoglobin:haptoglobin complexes (HH), via the scavenger receptor CD163, characterized by reduced inflammatory cytokine production. In this study, we examined the role of iron metabolism in modulating TLR4 signaling in these cells.

CHADS(2) score is predictive of left atrial thrombus on precardioversion transesophageal echocardiography in atrial fibrillation.

Objective: The goals of this study were to determine: 1) if the CHADS(2) score correlates with left atrial (LA) or left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus on pre-cardioversion transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF); and 2) what, if any, components of the CHADS(2) score are most important in predicting LA/LAA thrombus.

Background: It is unknown if CHADS(2) score, a marker of thromboembolic risk in NVAF, accurately predicts LA/LAA thrombus on pre-cardioversion TEE.

Methods: We retrospectively studied patients undergoing precardioversion TEE for NVAF at a tertiary hospital.