Immunomodulatory Activity of Sulfonamide Chalcone Compounds in Mice Infected with Filarial Parasite, Brugia malayi

Diethyl carbamazine (DEC) is being used as a sole drug to treat the lymphatic filariasis, although encountered with many limitations. Importantly, DEC works with putative host immunomodulating activities without any direct antifilarial effect. This study aimed to assess the possible modulatory effect on host immune system by sulfonamide chalcone compound, having direct antifilarial activity. The immunomodulatory activity of DEC and/or chalcone compound, 4t on mice peritoneal exudate cells (PECs) was analyzed initially in vitro. This was followed by the study of in vivo effect of these test agents in the parasitaemic BALB/c mice induced by Brugia malayi microfilariae. Cytokine profile and iNOS induction were measured from PECs of mice. 4t compound showed anti-inflammatory activity in vivo in contrast to DEC. Further 4t was found to increase anti-inflammatory and regulatory cytokines, IL-10 and TGF-β gene expression with down regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IFN-γ and iNOS in mice PECs in in vitro. In conclusion, chalcones having direct antifilarial effect also upsurges anti-inflammatory host immune response. Therefore, the results might be envisaged as 4t to be a better alternative to DEC in the chronic case of lymphatic filariasis.