Screening method involving transfected primary cells

A cellular assay for identifying an agent that modulates T cells comprising the steps of:

• a) providing primary T cells transfected with a biological active molecule selected from the group consisting of nucleic acid, protein, peptide, polysaccharide and lipid,
• b) stimulating the transfected T cells of step a) in the absence and in the presence of a candidate compound for a sufficient period of time,
• c) detecting the amount of a cytokine produced by the T cells and/or the proliferation of the T cells and/or the amount of a reporter molecule,
• d) determining whether there is a difference in the amount of cytokine produced and/or in the amount of proliferation and/or in the amount of reporter molecule in the absence and in the presence of a candidate compound, and
• e) choosing an agent from said candidate compound as determined in step d).