Amphotericin B potentiates the activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase and causes nitric oxide-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction in cytokine-treated rodent astrocytes.

Because the neurotoxic effects of the antifungal drug amphotericin B (AMB) closely resemble those ascribed to the highly reactive gaseous free radical nitric oxide (NO), we investigated the effect of AMB on NO production in rodent astrocytes. AMB caused a dose-dependent increase of NO generation in interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-stimulated rat and mouse astrocytes, as well as in IFN-gamma + tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-activated rat astrocytoma cell line C6. Treatment of rat astrocytes with AMB markedly potentiated IFN-gamma-triggered expression of mRNA for iNOS, but not for its transcription factor IRF-1. The activation of transcription factor NF-kappaB was apparently required for AMB-induced iNOS mRNA expression, as the latter was abolished by NF-kappaB inhibitors: pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate and MG132. AMB-mediated enhancement of astrocyte NO production was partly dependent on endogenous IL-1, as shown by partial inhibition of AMB effect with IL-1 receptor antagonist. IFN-gamma + AMB treatment led to reduction of astrocyte mitochondrial respiration (measured by MTT assay) that has been completely reverted by selective iNOS inhibitor aminoguanidine. AMB toxicity toward IFN-gamma-stimulated astrocytes was dependent on both AMB and NO action, since AMB and NO-releasing substance SNP synergized in inducing astrocyte mitochondrial dysfunction. These results suggest that the enhancement of cytokine-induced iNOS activation in astrocytes and the subsequent release of high amounts of NO might be at least partly responsible for AMB neurotoxicity. Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.