Comparative internalization and recycling of different amphotericin B formulations by a macrophage-like cell line

The amount of amphotericin B (AmB) associated with cultured murine macrophage-like J774 cells, after incubation with various AmB lipid formulations, was determined by absorption spectroscopy. Large, negatively charged, AmB-containing, multilamellar vesicles and small cholesteryl sulphate-AmB complexes both enhanced the amount of AmB associated with J774 cells at 37°C (up to 500-fold the extracellular concentration). In contrast, AmB-containing, small, negatively charged vesicles (AmBisome), positively charged, oligolamellar vesicles and mixed micelles showed a lower association of the antibiotic with cells, compared with AmB added from a solution in dimethylsulphoxide or Fungizone. Experiments performed at 4°C showed a large reduction of AmB uptake for AmB preparations and AmB added from a solution in dimethysulphoxide or Fungizone, suggesting a high percentage of internalization of the antibiotic. Experiments in the presence of cytochalasin B resulted in a decrease of AmB uptake mainly for the preparations of large diameter, suggesting that these formulations were taken up by phagocytosis. A comparative study with Chinese hamster ovary cells, a model of non-phagocytic cells, snowed a reduction in the take up of AmB. This reduction was always more marked when AmB was incorporated in lipid formulations. On the other hand, accumulation of the antibiotic in J774 cells was shown to be followed by its release from the cells in an unbound form, the extent of release depending on the type of vector used. The results suggest that in some cases macrophages can be considered as reservoirs of antibiotic, releasing free AmB in the medium.