Methyl-β-cyclodextrin inhibits Ca-responses induced by glutoxim and molixan in macrophages.

Using Fura-2AM microfluorimetry, we have shown for the first time that methyl-β-cyclodextrin, inducing cholesterol extraction from membranes and raft disruption, significantly inhibits glutoxim- and molixan-induced Ca-responses in rat peritoneal macrophages. The results suggest that intact rafts are necessary for signaling cascade induced by glutoxim or molixan and leading to intracellular Ca concentration increase in macrophages.