Regulation of the RyR channel gating by Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> and Mg<Superscript>2+</Superscript>

Ryanodine receptors (RyRs) are the Ca²⁺ release channels in the sarcoplasmic reticulum in striated muscle which play an important role in excitation-contraction coupling and cardiac pacemaking. Single channel recordings have revealed a wealth of information about ligand regulation of RyRs from mammalian skeletal and cardiac muscle (RyR1 and RyR2, respectively). RyR subunit has a Ca²⁺ activation site located in the luminal and cytoplasmic domains of the RyR. These sites synergistically feed into a common gating mechanism for channel activation by luminal and cytoplasmic Ca²⁺. RyRs also possess two inhibitory sites in their cytoplasmic domains with Ca²⁺ affinities of the order of 1 μM and 1 mM. Magnesium competes with Ca²⁺ at these sites to inhibit RyRs and this plays an important role in modulating their Ca²⁺-dependent activity in muscle. This review focuses on how these sites lead to RyR modulation by Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ and how these mechanisms control Ca²⁺ release in excitation-contraction coupling and cardiac pacemaking.     

Thiamine Deficiency Increases Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> Current and Ca<Subscript>V</Subscript>1.2 L-type Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> Channel Levels in Cerebellum Granular Neurons

Thiamine (vitamin B1) is co-factor for three pivotal enzymes for glycolytic metabolism: pyruvate dehydrogenase, α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, and transketolase. Thiamine deficiency leads to neurodegeneration of several brain regions, especially the cerebellum. In addition, several neurodegenerative diseases are associated with impairments of glycolytic metabolism, including Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, understanding the link between dysfunction of the glycolytic pathway and neuronal death will be an important step to comprehend the mechanism and progression of neuronal degeneration as well as the development of new treatment for neurodegenerative states. Here, using an in vitro model to study the effects of thiamine deficiency on cerebellum granule neurons, we show an increase in Ca²⁺ current density and Ca_V1.2 expression. These results indicate a link between alterations in glycolytic metabolism and changes to Ca²⁺ dynamics, two factors that have been implicated in neurodegeneration.     

Regulation of Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> influx in proliferating and differentiating murine myoblasts with participation of L-type Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> channels

The basic mechanisms of regulation of Ca²⁺ influx have been studied in murine myoblasts proliferating and differentiating in culture. The presence of L-type Ca²⁺ channels in proliferating myoblasts is shown for the first time. It is also shown that the influx of Ca²⁺ through these channels is regulated by the adrenergic system. The influx of Ca²⁺ after activation of the adrenergic system by addition of adrenaline has been estimated in comparison with the contribution of reticular stocks exhausted by ATP in calcium-free medium. The Ca²⁺ influx in proliferating myoblasts is regulated by β-2 adrenergic receptors whose action is mediated by adenylate cyclase through L-type calcium channels. In differentiating myoblasts, the adrenaline-induced Ca²⁺ influx is substantially lower than in proliferating cells, and maximal influx of Ca²⁺ may be reached only upon exhaustion of reticular stocks.     

Plant Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-ATPases

Plant calcium pumps, similarly to animal Ca²⁺ pumps, belong to the superfamily of P-type ATPase comprising also the plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase of fungi and plants, Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase of animals and H⁺/K⁺ ATPase of mammalian gastric mucosa. According to their sensitivity to calmodulin the plant Ca²⁺-ATPases have been divided into two subgroups: type IIA (homologues of animal SERCA) and type IIB (homologues of animal PMCA). Regardless of the similarities in a protein sequence, the plant Ca²⁺ pumps differ from those in animals in their cellular localization, structure and sensitivity to inhibitors. Genomic investigations revealed multiplicity of plant Ca²⁺-ATPases; they are present not only in the plasma membranes and ER but also in membranes of most of the cell compartments, such as vacuole, plastids, nucleus or Golgi apparatus. Studies using yeast mutants made possible the functional and biochemical characterization of individual plant Ca²⁺-ATMPases. Plant calcium pumps play an essential role in signal transduction pathways, they are responsible for the regulation of [Ca²⁺] in both cytoplasm and endomembrane compartments. These Ca²⁺-ATPases appear to be involved in plant adaptation to stress conditions, like salinity, chilling or anoxia.     

L-type Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> channel and Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-permeable nonselective cation channel as a Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> conducting pathway in myocytes isolated from the cricket lateral oviduct

The Ca²⁺-conducting pathway of myocytes isolated from the cricket lateral oviduct was investigated by means of the whole-cell patch clamp technique. In voltage-clamp configuration, two types of whole cell inward currents were identified. One was voltage-dependent, initially activated at –40 mV and reaching a maximum at 10 mV with the use of 140 mM Cs²⁺-aspartate in the patch pipette and normal saline in the bath solution. Replacement of the external Ca²⁺ with Ba²⁺ slowed the current decay. Increasing the external Ca²⁺ or Ba²⁺ concentration increased the amplitude of the inward current and the current–voltage (I–V) relationship was shifted as expected from a screening effect on negative surface charges. The inward current could be carried by Na⁺ in the absence of extracellular Ca²⁺. Current carried by Na⁺ (I _Na) was almost completely blocked by the dihydropyridine Ca²⁺ channel antagonist, nifedipine, suggesting that the I _Na is through voltage-dependent L-type Ca²⁺ channels. The other inward current is voltage-independent and its I–V relationship was linear between –100 mV to 0 mV with a slight inward rectification at more hyperpolarizing membrane potentials when 140 mM Cs⁺-aspartate and 140 mM Na⁺-gluconate were used in the patch pipette and in the bath solution, respectively. A similar current was observed even when the external Na⁺ was replaced with an equimolar amount of K⁺ or Cs⁺, or 50 mM Ca²⁺ or Ba²⁺. When the osmolarity of the bath solution was reduced by removing mannitol from the bath solution, the inward current became larger at negative potentials. The I–V relationship for the current evoked by the hypotonic solution also showed a linear relationship between –100 mV to 0 mV. Bath application of Gd³⁺ (10 M) decreased the inward current activated by membrane hyperpolarization. These results clearly indicate that the majority of current activated by a membrane hyperpolarization is through a stretch-activated Ca²⁺-permeable nonselective cation channel (NSCC). Here, for the first time, we have identified voltage-dependent L-type Ca²⁺ channel and stretch-activated Ca²⁺-permeable NSCCs from enzymatically isolated muscle cells of the cricket using the whole-cell patch clamp recording technique.Abbreviations I _Ca Ca²⁺ current - I _Na Na⁺ current - I–V current–voltage - NSCC nonselective cation channel Communicated by G. Heldmaier     

Synaptotagmin IV Acts as a Multi-Functional Regulator of Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-Dependent Exocytosis

In response to stimuli, secretary cells secrete a variety of signaling molecules packed in vesicles (e.g., neurotransmitters and peptide hormones) into the extracellular space by exocytosis. The vesicle secretion is often triggered by calcium ion (Ca²⁺) entered into secretary cells and achieved by the fusion of secretory vesicles with the plasma membrane. Recent accumulating evidence has indicated that members of the synaptotagmin (Syt) family play a major role in Ca²⁺-dependent exocytosis, and Syt I, in particular, is now widely accepted as the major Ca²⁺-sensor for synchronous neurotransmitter release. Involvement of other Syt isoforms in Ca²⁺-dependent exocytotic events other than neurotransmitter release has also been reported, and the Syt IV isoform is of particular interest, because Syt IV has several unique features not found in Syt I (e.g., immediate early gene product induced by deporalization and postsynaptic localization). In this article, we summarize the literature on the multi-functional role of Syt IV in Ca²⁺-dependent exocytosis.     

The Human Red Cell Voltage-regulated Cation Channel. The Interplay with the Chloride Conductance,the Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-activated K<Superscript>+</Superscript> Channel and the Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> Pump

Electrocytes from the electric organ of Electrophorus electricus exhibited sodium action potentials that have been proposed to be repolarized by leak currents and not by outward voltage-gated potassium currents. However, patch-clamp recordings have suggested that electrocytes may contain a very low density of voltage-gated K⁺ channels. We report here the cloning of a K⁺ channel from an eel electric organ cDNA library, which, when expressed in mammalian tissue culture cells, displayed delayed-rectifier K⁺ channel characteristics. The amino-acid sequence of the eel K⁺ channel had the highest identity to Kv1.1 potassium channels. However, different important functional regions of eel Kv1.1 had higher amino-acid identity to other Kv1 members, for example, the eel Kv1.1 S4-S5 region was identical to Kv1.5 and Kv1.6. Northern blot analysis indicated that eel Kv1.1 mRNA was expressed at appreciable levels in the electric organ but it was not detected in eel brain, muscle, or cardiac tissue. Because electrocytes do not express robust outward voltage-gated potassium currents we speculate that eel Kv1.1 channels are chronically inhibited in the electric organ and may be functionally recruited by an unknown mechanism.     

Block of a Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-activated Potassium Channel by Cocaine

The primary target for cocaine is believed to be monoamine transporters because of cocaine’s high-affinity binding that prevents re-uptake of released neurotransmitter. However, direct interaction with ion channels has been shown to be important for certain pharmacological/toxicological effects of cocaine. Here I show that cocaine selectively blocks a calcium-dependent K⁺ channel in hippocampal neurons grown in culture (IC₅₀ = ∼30 μM). Single-channel recordings show that in the presence of cocaine, the channel openings are interrupted with brief closures (flicker block). As the concentration of cocaine is increased the open-time is reduced, whereas the duration of brief closures is independent of concentration. The association and dissociation rate constants of cocaine for the neuronal Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels are 261 ± 37 μM⁻¹s⁻¹ and 11451 ± 1467 s⁻¹. The equilibrium dissociation constant (K_B) for cocaine, determined from single-channel parameters, is 43 μM. The lack of voltage dependence of block suggests that cocaine probably binds to a site at the mouth of the pore. Block of Ca²⁺-dependent K⁺ channels by cocaine may be involved in functions that include broadening of the action potential, which would facilitate transmitter release, enhancement of smooth muscle contraction particularly in blood vessels, and modulation of repetitive neuronal firing by altering the repolarization and afterhyperpolarization phases of the action potential.     

Mitochondrial Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> uptake pathways

Calcium (Ca²⁺) plays diverse roles in all living organisms ranging from bacteria to humans. It is a structural element for bones, an essential mediator of excitation-contraction coupling, and a universal second messenger in the regulation of ion channel, enzyme and gene expression activities. In mitochondria, Ca²⁺ is crucial for the control of energy production and cellular responses to metabolic stress. Ca²⁺ uptake by the mitochondria occurs by the uniporter mechanism. The Mitochondrial Ca2+ Uniporter (MCU) protein has recently been identified as a core component responsible for mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake. MCU knockout (MCU KO) studies have identified a number of important roles played by this high capacity uptake pathway. Interestingly, this work has also shown that MCU-mediated Ca²⁺ uptake is not essential for vital cell functions such as muscle contraction, energy metabolism and neurotransmission. Although mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake was markedly reduced, MCU KO mitochondria still contained low but detectable levels of Ca²⁺. In view of the fundamental importance of Ca²⁺ for basic cell signalling, this finding suggests the existence of other currently unrecognized pathways for Ca²⁺ entry. We review the experimental evidence for the existence of alternative Ca²⁺ influx mechanisms and propose how these mechanisms may play an integral role in mitochondrial Ca²⁺ signalling.     

Effects of fluoride on the intracellular free Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> and Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-ATPase of kidney

In the present study, the effect of fluoride on intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) and Ca2+-ATPase of renal cells were examined. Some paradoxical experimental results about the mechanism of fluoride toxicity were observed. In vivo, 48 Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups, and half of rats were treated with sodium fluoride (NaF) by drinking water (per liter of tap water containing 100 mg F-). Compared with the respective control, the level of [Ca2+]i of the kidney in two fluoride-treated rats obviously increased (p < 0.05); and the activity of Ca2+-ATPase in 100 mg F-/L groups with a standard diet did not significantly increase, and the enzyme activity in 100-mg F-/L group with a low-calcium diet decreased significantly compared to the 100 mg F-/L group with a standard diet (p < 0.05). In vitro, renal tubular cells were cultured and respectively exposed to 1.0, 5.0, 7.5, and 12.5 mg/L fluoride in the culture medium. Results showed the significantly elevated activity of Ca2+-ATPase in the cells exposed to 1.0 and 5.0 mg/L fluoride (p < 0.05), and this enzyme activity indicated inhibitory trend in cells of the 7.5- and 12.5-mg/L fluoride-treated group. To sum up, the effect of fluoride on Ca2+-ATPase is a similar to a dose-effect relationship phenomenon characterized by low-dose stimulation and high-dose inhibition, and the increase of [Ca2+]i probably plays a key role on the mechanism of renal injury in fluorosis.     

Influence of Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> Oscillatory Influx on Membrane Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-ATPase Activity: a Kinetic Model

A kinetic model for the membrane Ca²⁺-ATPase is considered. The catalytic cycle in the model is extended by enzyme auto-inhibition and by oscillatory calcium influx. It is shown that the conductive enzyme activity can be registered as damped or sustained Ca²⁺ pulses similar to observed experimentally. It is shown that frequency variations in Ca²⁺ oscillatory influx induce changes of pulsating enzyme activity. Encoding is observed for the signal frequency into a number of fixed levels of sustained pulses in the enzyme activity. At certain calcium signal frequencies, the calculated Ca²⁺-ATPase conductivity demonstrates chaotic multi-level pulses, similar to those observed experimentally.__________Translated from Biokhimiya, Vol. 70, No. 4, 2005, pp. 539–544.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Goldstein, Mayevsky, Zakrjevskaya.     

Physiological roles of NAADP-mediated Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> signaling

Nicotinic acid dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) is unique amongst Ca²⁺ mobilizing messengers in that its principal function is to mobilize Ca²⁺ from acidic organelles. Early studies indicated that it was likely that NAADP activates a novel Ca²⁺ release channel distinct from the well characterized Ca²⁺ release channels on the (sarco)-endoplasmic reticulum (ER), inositol trisphosphate and ryanodine receptors. In this review, we discuss the emergence of a novel family of endolysosomal channels, the two-pore channels (TPCs), as likely targets for NAADP, and how molecular and pharmacological manipulation of these channels is enhancing our understanding of the physiological roles of NAADP as an intracellular Ca²⁺ mobilizing messenger.     

Evolution of mechanisms of Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-signaling. Role of Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> in regulation of fundamental cell functions

The review considers mechanisms of Ca²⁺-dependent regulation of cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis in cells of the higher eukaryotes by modulation of the signal Ras-MAPK pathway.     

Regulation of Plant Plasma Membrane H<Superscript>+</Superscript>- and Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-ATPases by Terminal Domains

In the last few years, major progress has been made to elucidate the structure, function, and regulation of P-type plasma membrane H⁺-and Ca²⁺-ATPases. Even though a number of regulatory proteins have been identified, many pieces are still lacking in order to understand the complete regulatory mechanisms of these pumps. In plant plasma membrane H⁺- and Ca²⁺-ATPases, autoinhibitory domains are situated in the C- and N-terminal domains, respectively. A model for a common mechanism of autoinhibition is discussed.     

Anoxia-induced elevation of cytosolic Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> concentration depends on different Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> sources in rice and wheat protoplasts

The anoxia-dependent elevation of cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration, [Ca²⁺]_cyt, was investigated in plants differing in tolerance to hypoxia. The [Ca²⁺]_cyt was measured by fluorescence microscopy in single protoplasts loaded with the calcium-fluoroprobe Fura 2-AM. Imposition of anoxia led to a fast (within 3 min) significant elevation of [Ca²⁺]_cyt in rice leaf protoplasts. A tenfold drop in the external Ca²⁺ concentration (to 0.1 mM) resulted in considerable decrease of the [Ca²⁺]_cyt shift. Rice root protoplasts reacted upon anoxia with higher amplitude. Addition of plasma membrane (verapamil, La³⁺ and EGTA) and intracellular membrane Ca²⁺-channel antagonists (Li⁺, ruthenium red and cyclosporine A) reduced the anoxic Ca²⁺-accumulation in rice. Wheat protoplasts responded to anoxia by smaller changes of [Ca²⁺]_cyt. In wheat leaf protoplasts, the amplitude of the Ca²⁺-shift little depended on the external level of Ca²⁺. Wheat root protoplasts were characterized by a small shift of [Ca²⁺]_cyt under anoxia. Plasmalemma Ca²⁺-channel blockers had little effect on the elevation of cytosolic Ca²⁺ in wheat protoplasts. Intact rice seedlings absorbed Ca²⁺ from the external medium under anoxic treatment. On the contrary, wheat seedlings were characterized by leakage of Ca²⁺. Verapamil abolished the Ca²⁺ influx in rice roots and Ca²⁺ efflux from wheat roots. Anoxia-induced [Ca²⁺]_cyt elevation was high particularly in rice, a hypoxia-tolerant species. In conclusion, both external and internal Ca²⁺ stores are important for anoxic [Ca²⁺]_cyt elevation in rice, whereas the hypoxia-intolerant wheat does not require external sources for [Ca²⁺]_cyt rise. Leaf and root protoplasts similarly responded to anoxia, independent of their organ origin.     

Regulation of Insulin Secretion in Islets of Langerhans by Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>Channels

Insulin secretion from β-cells of the pancreatic islets of Langerhans is triggered by Ca²⁺ influx through voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels. Electrophysiological and molecular studies indicate that β-cells express several subtypes of these channels. This review discusses their roles in regulating insulin secretion, focusing on recent studies using β-cells, exogenous expression systems, and Ca²⁺ channel knockout mice. These investigations reveal that L-type Ca²⁺ channels in the β-cell physically interact with the secretory apparatus by binding to synaptic proteins on the plasma membrane and insulin granule. As a result, Ca²⁺ influx through L-type channels efficiently and rapidly stimulates release of a pool of insulin granules in close contact with the channels. Thus, L-type Ca²⁺ channel activity is preferentially coupled to exocytosis in the β-cell, and plays a critical role in regulating the dynamics of insulin secretion. Non-L-type channels carry a significant portion of the total voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ current in β-cells and cell lines from some species, but nevertheless account for only a small fraction of insulin secretion. These channels may regulate exocytosis indirectly by affecting membrane potential or second messenger signaling pathways. Finally, voltage-independent Ca²⁺ entry pathways and their potential roles in β-cell function are discussed. The emerging picture is that Ca²⁺ channels regulate insulin secretion at multiple sites in the stimulus-secretion coupling pathway, with the specific role of each channel determined by its biophysical and structural properties.This revised version was published online in June 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> channels and Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> signals involved in abiotic stress responses in plant cells: recent advances

Calcium (Ca²⁺) signals are essential transducers and regulators in many adaptive and developmental processes in plants. Protective responses of plants to a variety of environmental stress factors are mediated by transient changes of Ca²⁺ concentration in plant cells. Ca²⁺ ions are quickly transported by channel proteins present on the plasma membrane. During responses to external stimuli, various signal molecules are transported directly from extracellular to intracellular compartments via Ca²⁺ channel proteins. Three types of Ca²⁺ channels have been identified in plant cell membranes: voltage-dependent Ca²⁺-permeable channels (VDCCs), which is sorted to depolarization-activated Ca²⁺-permeable channels (DACCs) and hyperpolarization-activated Ca²⁺-permeable channels (HACCs), voltage-independent Ca²⁺-permeable channels (VICCs). They make functions in the abiotic stress such as TPCs, CNGCs, MS channels, annexins which distribute in the organelles, plasma membrane, mitochondria, cytosol, intracelluar membrane. This review summarizes recent advances in our knowledge of many types of Ca²⁺ channels and Ca²⁺ signals involved in abiotic stress resistance and responses in plant cells.     

Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-independent effects of spermine on pyruvate dehydrogenase complex activity in energized rat liver mitochondria incubated in the absence of exogenous Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> and Mg<Superscript>2</Superscript><Superscript>+</Superscript>

In the absence of exogenous Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ and in the presence of EGTA, which favours the release of endogenous Ca²⁺, the polyamine spermine is able to stimulate the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) of energized rat liver mitochondria (RLM). This stimulation exhibits a gradual concentration-dependent trend, which is maximum, about 140%, at 0.5 mM concentration, after 30 min of incubation. At concentrations higher than 0.5 mM, spermine still stimulates PDC, when compared with the control, but shows a slight dose-dependent decrease. Changes in PDC stimulation are very close to the phosphorylation level of the E_1α subunit of PDC, which regulates the activity of the complex, but it is also the target of spermine. In other words, progressive dephosphorylation gradually enhances the stimulation of RLM and progressive phosphorylation slightly decreases it. These results provide the first evidence that, when transported in RLM, spermine can interact in various ways with PDC, showing dose-dependent behaviour. The interaction most probably takes place directly on a specific site for spermine on one of the regulatory enzymes of PDC, i.e. pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase (PDP). The interaction of spermine with PDC may also involve activation of another regulatory enzyme, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK), resulting in an increase in E_1α phosphorylation and consequently reduced stimulation of PDC at high polyamine concentrations. The different effects of spermine in RLM are discussed, considering the different activities of PDP and PDK isoenzymes. It is suggested that the polyamine at low concentrations stimulates the isoenzyme PDP₂ and at high concentrations it stimulates PDK₂.     

Diacylglycerols Activate Mitochondrial Cationic Channel(s) and Release Sequestered Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>

Mitochondria contribute to cytosolic Ca²⁺ homeostasis through several uptake and release pathways. Here we report that 1,2-sn-diacylglycerols (DAGs) induce Ca²⁺ release from Ca²⁺-loaded mammalian mitochondria. Release is not mediated by the uniporter or the Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger, nor is it attributed to putative catabolites. DAGs-induced Ca²⁺ efflux is biphasic. Initial release is rapid and transient, insensitive to permeability transition inhibitors, and not accompanied by mitochondrial swelling. Following initial rapid release of Ca²⁺ and relatively slow reuptake, a secondary progressive release of Ca²⁺ occurs, associated with swelling, and mitigated by permeability transition inhibitors. The initial peak of DAGs-induced Ca²⁺ efflux is abolished by La³⁺ (1 mM) and potentiated by protein kinase C inhibitors. Phorbol esters, 1,3-diacylglycerols and 1-monoacylglycerols do not induce mitochondrial Ca²⁺ efflux. Ca²⁺-loaded mitoplasts devoid of outer mitochondrial membrane also exhibit DAGs-induced Ca²⁺ release, indicating that this mechanism resides at the inner mitochondrial membrane. Patch clamping brain mitoplasts reveal DAGs-induced slightly cation-selective channel activity that is insensitive to bongkrekic acid and abolished by La³⁺. The presence of a second messenger-sensitive Ca²⁺ release mechanism in mitochondria could have an important impact on intracellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis.     

The effect of oxidized glutathione and its pharmacological analogue glutoxim on intracellular Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> concentration in macrophages Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>

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.Two structurally different tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein and methyl-2,5-dihydroxycinnamate prevent or completely reverse the increase in the intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration induced by GSSG or glutoxim. On the contrary, tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor Na orthovanadate enhances the increase of intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration evoked by oxidizing agents. The data suggest that tyrosine kinases and tyrosine phosphatases are involved in the regulatory effect of GSSG and glutoxim on the intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration in macrophages.