The present invention provides for the use of soluble forms of CD83 and
nucleic acids encoding them for the treatment of diseases caused by the
dysfunction or undesired function of a cellular immune response involving
dendritic cells, T cells and/or B cells. The invention moreover provides
soluble CD83 molecules specifically suited for said purpose, antibodies
against said specific soluble CD83 proteins and assay methods and kits
comprising said antibodies.