A kinetic study of the oxidation effects of amphotericin B on human low-density lipoproteins

The UV-visible results of this kinetic study show that amphothericin B as F ungizone is a much stronger oxidant than CuSO4, itself a powerful oxidant o f low-density lipoprotein (LDL), Amphotericin B as AmBisome alone has no ox idizing effect on LDL while a mixture of both AmBisome and CuSO4 induces an important potentialization of the LDL oxidation. These results allow us to believe that the high toxicity of amphotericin B is related to its capacit y to modify and to weaken the structure of LDL. In addition, differential s canning calorimetry experiments show that the oxidative modifications of LD L by CuSO4 or by amphotericin B proceed through different mechanisms. (C) 2 000 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.