About CD163
The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the scavenger receptor cysteine-rich (SRCR) superfamily, and is exclusively expressed in monocytes and macrophages. It functions as an acute phase-regulated receptor involved in the clearance and endocytosis of hemoglobin/haptoglobin complexes by macrophages, and may thereby protect tissues from free hemoglobin-mediated oxidative damage. This protein may also function as an innate immune sensor for bacteria and inducer of local inflammation. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been described for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2011]

About Alexa Fluor 594
Alexa Fluor™ 594 (AF594, Alexa 594) has an excitation peak at 590 nm and an emission peak at 617 nm, and is spectrally similar to Texas Red (ThermoFisher Scientific), DyLight™ 594 (ThermoFisher Scientific), iFluor® 594 (ATT Bioquest) and iFluor® 610 (ATT Bioquest), CF®594 (Biotium), and ATTO 594 (ATTO-TEC). Alexa 594 is commonly used for flow cytometry,fluorescence microscopy and super-resolution microscopy. It is very bright, photostable, and pH insensitive.