The invention provides methods for modulating cytokine levels, GM-CSF
levels and the immune system using CD83 nucleic acids, CD83 polypeptides,
anti-CD83 antibodies and factors that influence CD83 activity or
expression. The invention also provides mice having a mutant CD83 gene
and mice having a transgenic CD83 gene, which are useful for defining the
role of CD83 in the immune system and for identifying compounds that can
modulate CD83 and the immune system.