Glutoxim and molixan belong to new generation of disulfide-containing drugs with immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective and hemopoetic effect on cells. Using Fura-2AM microfluorimetry, two structurally distinct actin filament disrupters latrunculin B and cytochalasin D, and calyculin A, which causes actin filaments condensation under plasmalemma, we have shown the involvement of actin cytoskeleton in the intracellular Ca2+-concentration increase induced by glutoxim or molixan in rat peritoneal macrophages. Morphological data obtained with the use of rhodamine-phalloidine demonstrated that glutoxim and molixan cause the actin filaments reorganization in rat peritoneal macrophages.

Using the voltage-clamp technique, the possible implication of cytoskeleton in the effect of glutoxim, a pharmacological analog of oxidized glutathione (GSSG), on Na + transport in the skin of frog Rana temporaria was investigated. It was shown for the first time that skin preincubation with nocodazole, a microtubular disrupter; cytochalasin D, actin filament disrupter; or protein phosphatase PP1/PP2A inhibitor calyculin A significantly decreased the stimulatory effect of glutoxim on Na + transport. The results suggest the involvement of microtubules and microfilaments in the regulatory effect of glutoxim on Na + transport in frog skin and that reorganization of actin filaments or microtubules leads to inhibition of the stimulatory effect of glutoxim on Na + transport in frog skin epithelia.

Using voltage-clamp technique, the role of tyrosine kinases and phosphatidylinositol kinases in the effect of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and its pharmacological analogue, drug glutoxim, on Na+ transport in the frog Rana temporaria skin was investigated. It was shown for the first time that preincubation of the skin with tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein or with two structurally distinct phosphatidylinositol kinase inhibitors, wortmannin and LY294002, significantly decreased the stimulatory effect of GSSG or glutoxim on Na+ transport. The data suggest that GSSG and glutoxim might transactivate insulin receptor in the basolateral membrane of epithelial cells and trigger the signaling cascade, involving tyrosine kinases and phosphatidylinositol kinases, which lead to Na+ transport stimulation in frog skin.

Using Fura-2AM microfluorimetry, the effect of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and its pharmacological analogue glutoxim on the intracellular Ca2+ concentration in rat peritoneal macrophages was investigated. It was shown that GSSG or glutoxim increase the intracellular Ca2+ concentration by inducing Ca2+ mobilization from thapsigargin-sensitive Ca2+ stores and subsequent Ca2+ entry from external medium. Dithiothreitol, which reduces S-S-bonds in proteins, completely prevents or reverses the increase of intracellular Ca2+ concentration induced by GSSG or glutoxim. This suggests that the increase of intracellular Ca2+ concentration induced by GSSG or glutoxim can be mediated by their interactions with functionally important SH-groups of proteins involved in Ca2+-signaling.

: Using Fura-2AM microfluorimetry the role of phosphatidylinositol kinases in the regulation of Ca2+ signals induced by purinergic agonist ATP and endoplasmic Ca2(+)-ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin in rat peritoneal macrophages was investigated. It was shown that two structurally distinct phosphatidylinositol 3- and phosphatidylinositol-4-kinases inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002 showed a dose- dependent effect on store-dependent Ca2(+)-entry, induced by thapsigargin or ATP. The data suggest that phosphatidylinositol 3- and phosphatidylinositol-4-kinases play an important role in the activation of store-dependent Ca2(+)-entry in macrophages and that their effect might be mediated by their influence on actin cytoskeleton. The results are compatible with the "secretion-like coupling model" for store-dependent Ca2(+)-entry in macrophages based on a reversible trafficking and coupling of the Ca2+ store with the plasma membrane which suggests the involvement of microfilaments and phosphatidylinositol kinases.

The review summarizes recent data on the structural and functional organization and regulation mechanisms of Na+ transport in epithelial systems. The review is focused on the structure, function, regulation and pathology of epithelial Na+ channels, which are critical for Na+ homeostasis maintenance and blood pressure control.

Using Fura-2AM microfluorimetry, effect of actin filament modifiers and vesicular trafficking inhibitor on the store-dependent Ca2+ entry induced by purinergic agonists (ATP, UTP) and endoplasmic Ca2+-ATPase inhibitors (thapsigargin, cyclopiazonic acid) in rat peritoneal macrophages was investigated. It was shown that inhibition of actin polymerization by latrunculin B had a biphasic time-dependent effect on Ca2+ entry, showing an initial potentiation followed by inhibition of Ca2+ entry. Moreover, addition of latrunculin B after induction of store-dependent Ca2+ entry inhibited the Ca2+ influx. Jasplakinolide, which reorganizes actin filaments into a tight cortical layer adjacent to the plasma membrane, prevented activation of store-dependent Ca2+ entry but did not modify this process after its activation. Vesicular transport inhibitor brefeldin A, which inactivates arfproteins, inhibited activation of store-dependent Ca2+ entry but did not alter this mechanism once being initiated. These data are compatible with the sectretion-like coupling model for store-dependent Ca2+ entry in macrophages based on a reversible trafficking and coupling of Ca2+ store with the plasma membrane.

Using the voltage-clamp technique, a possible role of protein kinase C in regulation of Na+ transport in the skin of the frog Rana temporaria was investigated. It was shown that protein kinase C activator phorbol ester 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), applied to the apical surface of the skin, stimulated transepithelial Na+ transport, measured as amiloride-sensitive short-circuit current, and also increased such electrical characteristics of frog skin as the open-circuit potential and transepithelial conductance. PMA exerts a similar stimulation effect on Na+ transport across the tadpole skin. Specific inhibitors of protein kinase C, chelerythryne or H-7, almost fully prevented the PMA-induced stimulation of Na+ transport. These data support a concept that the response to PMA was indeed mediated by PKC activation. The results are compatible with the important role played by protein kinase C in regulation of transepithelial Na+ transport in the skin of R. temporaria.

The review summarizes recent data and current opinions of the Ca2+ signal formation in cells. Mechanisms of Ca2+ mobilization from the intracellular Ca2+ stores are discussed along with the pathways of Ca2+ entry from the external medium.

The role of the cytoskeleton in regulation of purinergic agonist- and endoplasmic Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitors-induced Ca2+ signals in rat peritoneal macrophages was investigated. It has been shown that in cells pretreated with agents that disrupt microtubules (vinblastine, colchicine, colcemid) or actin microfilaments (cytochalasins, phalloidin), the ability of thapsigargin or cyclopiazonic acid to empty Ca2+ stores and activate store-dependent Ca2+ influx was significantly attenuated. On the contrary, microfilaments and microtubule disrupters did not affect ATP- or UTP-induced Ca2+ mobilization, indicating that release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores through the inositol phosphate pathway was intact. The results suggested that an intact cytoskeleton is required for capacitative Ca2+ entry but not for agonist-induced Ca2+ mobilization.

Effects of arachidonic and other fatty acids on the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in rat peritoneal macrophages was investigated. It has been shown that cis-polyunsaturated arachidonic and linoleic induce a significant and dose-dependent increase in [Ca2+]i, which is due to depletion of thapsigargin-sensitive Ca2+ store and to stimulation of Ca2+ entry from the extracellular medium. Pharmacological characteristics of Ca2+ entry induced by arachidonic acid appeared to be similar to those of store-dependent Ca2+ entry activated by thapsigargin or cyclopiazonic acid; Ca2+ entry is attenuated by the same Ca2+ channel inhibitors, by tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein and epoxygenase inhibitor proadifen. Cis-monounsaturated oleic and saturated myristic acids appeared to be less effective and induced only a slight increase in [Ca2+]i at much higher concentrations. Arachidonic and other fatty acids can also stimulate Ca(2+)-ATPase in the macrophage plasma membrane. The data are compatible with the important role played by arachidonic and other free fatty acids in the regulation of [Ca2+]i in peritoneal macrophages.

Mechanisms of the Ca2+ signal generation and regulation in peritoneal macrophages activated with purinergic agonists (ATP, UTP), as well as endoplasmic Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitors, were investigated. Using a wide range of drugs affecting the intracellular signaling systems' components, an important role of second messenger systems and other key functional cellular systems in Ca2+ signals regulation in the macrophages, was shown.