Amphotericin B

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Background

Amphotericin B, a polyene antifungal antibiotic, has been produced from a strain of Streptomyces nodosus with an IC50 of 0.028–0.290 μg/ml.
In vitro: Amphotericin B was the most effective drug for treating many life-threatening fungal infections. In cells expressing TLR2 and CD14, amphotericin B induced signal transduction and inflammatory cytokine release. In primary murine macrophages and human cell lines expressing TLR2, CD14, and the adapter protein MyD88, amphotericin induced NF-κB-dependent reporter activity and cytokine release, whereas cells deficient in any of these failed to respond. Cells with TLR4 mutation were less responsive to amphotericin B stimulation than cells expressing normal TLR4 [1]. Amphotericin B could interact with cholesterol, the major sterol of mammal membranes, thus limiting the usefulness of Amphotericin B due to its relatively high toxicity [2]. Low AmB concentrations (≤ 0.1 μM) induced a polarization potential in KCl-loaded liposomes suspended in an iso-osmotic sucrose solution, indicating K+ leakage. AmB (＞ 0.1 μM) allowed cations and anions movements. LPs suspended in an iso-osmotic NaCl solution and exposed to AmB (0.05 μM) exhibited a nearly total collapse of the negative membrane potential, indicated that Na+ entered into the cells [3].
In vivo: Amphotericin B prolonged the incubation time and decreased PrPSc accumulation in the hamster scrapie model. Amphotericin B markedly resulted in reduction of PrPSc levels in mice with transmissible subacute spongiform encephalopathies (TSSE) [4].

[1]. Sau K1,Mambula SS,Latz E,Henneke P,Golenbock DT,Levitz SM.The antifungal drug amphotericin B promotes inflammatory cytokine release by a Toll-like receptor- and CD14-dependent mechanism.J Biol Chem.2003 Sep 26;278(39):37561-8. Epub 2003 Jul 14.
[2]. Barwicz J1,Tancrède P.The effect of aggregation state of amphotericin-B on its interactions with cholesterol- or ergosterol-containing phosphatidylcholine monolayers.Chem Phys Lipids.1997 Feb 28;85(2):145-55.
[3]. Ramos H1,Valdivieso E,Gamargo M,Dagger F,Cohen BE.Amphotericin B kills unicellular leishmanias by forming aqueous pores permeable to small cations and anions.J Membr Biol.1996 Jul;152(1):65-75.
[4]. Demaimay R1,Adjou K,Lasmézas C,Lazarini F,Cherifi K,Seman M,Deslys JP,Dormont D.Pharmacological studies of a new derivative of amphotericin B, MS-8209, in mouse and hamster scrapie.J Gen Virol.1994 Sep;75 ( Pt 9):2499-503.