This paper reviews the suitability of the popliteal lymph node (PLN) assay as a preclinical screening test to predict the potential of systemically administered pharmaceuticals to induce allergic or autoimmune responses. The basic assay provides a rapid, simple, and objective method to grade the immunostimulating capacity of compounds. Secondary PLN assays in sensitized animals can demonstrate specific immunological memory for the compound, whereas addition of defined reporter antigens allows identification of the type of response stimulated, and facilitates studies into the underlying mechanism.
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