Abstract: The invention relates to the field of immunology, gene therapy, and medicine. More specifically, the invention relates to the identification of a molecule capable of interacting with a soluble and/or cell-bound form of CD163 and, as a result of the interaction, an immune response is either instigated or suppressed in an organism. Furthermore, it relates to the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition including the molecule and/or antagonist I and/or agonist I thereof, and/or an isolated CD163 and/or an antagonist II or agonist II thereof, for the therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of an individual with an immune response disorder, e.g., inflammation, cancer, or infection.