Macrophages exert important functions in the balance and efficiency of immune responses, and participate in innate and adaptive immunity. The proinflammatory actions of macrophages are implicated in autoimmune diseases. Unlike classically activated M1 macrophages, the alternatively activated cluster of differentiation (CD)163+ and CD206+ M2 macrophages are involved in tissue repair and wound healing, and use oxidative metabolism to support their long‑term functions. CD163 is a member of the scavenger receptor superfamily, categorized into class B, and its soluble(s) form, sCD163, is a marker of activated M2 macrophages. CD163 is selectively expressed in cells of the monocyte and macrophage lineages; however, its biological role has yet to be elucidated. The expression of sCD163 is markedly induced by anti‑inflammatory mediators, such as glucocorticoids and interleukin‑10, whereas it is inhibited by proinflammatory mediators, such as interferon‑γ. These findings suggest that CD163 may serve as a potential target for the therapeutic modulation of inflammatory responses. The concentration of sCD163 in blood is associated with acute and chronic inflammatory processes in autoimmune disorders of connective tissue, fat metabolism and cardiovascular diseases, and it can be used for the assessment of cancer prognosis. A role for sCD163 in the pathogenesis of asthma has also been proposed. The present review serves to present the available knowledge concerning the implication of sCD163 in the pathophysiological mechanisms of asthma, and evaluate its potential as a biomarker and possible therapeutic target for asthma.