Bioassays and Other Methods for Immunomodulators in Preclinical and Clinical Setting

The availability of appropriate animal models is essential for effective translation of immunomodulatory research into clinical settings. Bioassays and other methods for immunomodulators in the preclinical and clinical setting are being used to assess the quality and quantification of the immune response, find the best suitable route of administration and formulation method, protect the transmission of infection, and assess the safety and toxicity of immunomodulators. Identifying the appropriate animal model has become very important, since each model has its own pro's and cons. The scope of this chapter is to outline the assaying of immunomodulatory activity, the approaches and the experimental strategies. This chapter discusses various in-vitro models such as cell lines, assays and murine models, which are being used for quantification of the immune response, assessment of overall immune functions, immunosuppressive activity, screening of anti-allergic drugs and agents used in the treatment of various autoimmune disorders and transplant-related and autoimmune diseases. The most important questions that we should keep in mind while choosing a suitable animal model are, selection of suitable species, physiological relevance of model, immunological functions to be evaluated, and its practical implications.