Phospholipase A2 inhibitors modulate the effects of glutoxim and molixan on the intracellular Ca(2+) level in macrophages.

Using the fluorescent Ca(2+) probe Fura-2AM, the possible involvement of phospholipase A2, the key enzyme in the arachidonic acid cascade, in the effect of drugs glutoxim and molixan on the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration in macrophages was studied. It was shown for the first time that preincubation of macrophages with the classical phospholipase A2 inhibitor, 4-bromophenacyl bromide, as well as with glucocorticosteroids prednisolone and dexamethasone significantly inhibits Ca(2+) responses induced by glutoxim or molixan in macrophages. These results indicate the involvement of phospholipase A2 and arachidonic acid cascade in glutoximand molixan-induced signaling in macrophages.