The relevance of the in vitro and in vivo data generated in this mouse model of melanoma is substantiated by the observation that HMGB1 release also occurs in human melanoma cell-lines under hypoxic conditions in vitro, particularly in Hif-1α-positive areas within human melanoma metastases and by the fact that melanoma metastases but not benign melanocytic nevi are infiltrated by CD163+ IL-10+ TAMs. The gene discussed is CD163; the disease is melanoma.