Amphotericin B induces expression of genes encoding chemokines and cell adhesion molecules in the human monocytic cell line THP-1

Amphotericin B is known to elicit immunomodulatory effects on neutrophil, m onocyte, and lymphocyte function. It also has been shown to induce the rele ase of proinflammatory cytokines from human monocytes and macrophages, Rele ase of these cytokines has been associated with the infusion-related toxici ty observed after administration of this drug. The present study demonstrat es that amphotericin B increases mRNA for the chemokines interleukin (IL)-8 , monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, and macrophage inflammatory pro tein (MIP)-1 beta, as well as the cell adhesion molecules intercellular adh esion molecule (ICAM)-1 and CD44 in the human monocytic cell line THP-1, Am photericin B increased the concentrations of IL-8, MCP-1, and MIP-1 beta in a dose-dependent fashion. Amphotericin B also induced expression of ICAM-1 but not CD44 in these cells. Production of these proteins in response to a mphotericin B may play a role in the immunomodulatory activity and toxicity of this antifungal agent.