title: Evaluation of the relationship of the molecular aggregation state of amphotericin B in medium to its genotoxic potential.
abstract: This work analyzes the genotoxicity potential, in the G2 phase of the cellular cycle, of an amphotericin B (AmB) commercially available form (Fungizone), and correlates it with the physicochemical properties of this product in aqueous media. The genotoxic studies were performed using peripheral blood lymphocytes from human donors. The chromosome aberrations and mitotic index were determined. Absorption spectra of Fungizone were obtained by dispersion of the stock solution in water for injection at various AmB concentrations, and using different cuvette path lengths for spectrophotometric determination. The absorption spectra of Fungizone in water are concentration dependent. High concentrations of Fungizone present a spectrum with an intense band at 340 nm, characteristic of AmB self-association. Conversely, at low concentrations, the spectra are similar to those obtained with AmB in methanol, with a positive band at 409 nm, assigned to AmB monomeric form. Similarly, the cytogenetic analysis shows an important decrease on the mitotic index, which is also concentration dependent when compared with control. Furthermore, the chromosome aberrations present a small, not statistically significant, increase only at the highest concentration. The results suggest that the Fungizone presents a cytotoxicity similar to membrane pore formation in mammalian cells that depends on the existence of self-associated AmB. In the presence of only monomeric forms, this phenomenon disappears. However, no genotoxicity was observed in this study.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Celular e Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, P.O. Box 1575, 59072-970, Natal/RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucila C M
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Egito
authors.forename: Silvia R Batistuzzo
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: de Medeiros
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: E Sócrates T
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Egito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000666:Amphotericin B