Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) is an ancient polymer, which was proven to be a signalling molecule in the mammalian brain, mediating the communication between astrocytes via activation of P2Y purinoreceptors and modulating the activity of neurons. There is very limited information regarding the ability of polyP to transmit the information as an agonist of purinoreceptors in other cells and tissues. Here, we show that application of polyP to the suspension of primary thymocytes increases the concentration of intracellular calcium.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEcdysterone is a naturally occurring steroid hormone, which presents in arthropods and in a number of plants as an insect defence tool. There are many studies showing that application of ecdysterone can alter mitochondrial functions of mammalian cells, however it is not clear whether its effects are direct or mediated by activation of other cellular processes. In our study, we have shown how ecdysterone acts at the mitochondrial level in normal conditions and in certain pathology.
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